State school board won't block cell towers on school property

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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah's State Board of Education says it won't dictate whether school districts can contract with communications companies that want to place cell phone towers on school grounds.

Nine school districts hold a combined 48 leases for cell towers, providing each district with about $1 million in annual revenue. Tower construction depends on the approval of city governments.

Board members considered the issue after some parents questioned whether the towers posed a safety risk to students.

Officials from Jordan School District, which has 28 towers, say the radio frequencies emitted by the towers are below the Federal Communications Commission's standards for safety limits.

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Information from: Standard-Examiner