Even as they used the technology, residents of rich North American communities thought they were free of its infrastructure. Instead the ugly but necessary–if you want to use cellphones–towers are invading even the wealthiest burb.
Their losing battle is becoming commonplace as hundreds of communities around the country wage the same fight against cellphone companies and the march of spindly, metallic and freakishly tall antennas into quiet, affluent precincts of suburbia.
Fears that the gigantic towers will reduce property values and cause health problems from radio-frequency emissions have created the kind of opposition that is usually reserved for waste treatment plants in many towns.