ITHACA,N.Y.(WENY)-- The iPhone 12 is expected to release on Friday, October 23rd and one of the main features of the phone is 5G. 

If you live in the finger lakes region Syracuse is the only place with 5G ultra Wideband and you would have to be within 1,000 feet of a transmitter to be able to use it. 

Ithaca is in the process of getting 5G transmitters installed throughout the city but Deb Mohlenhoff, Alderperson for the 5th ward, said this could take up to a year. 

“ It will all depend on the approval of the design guidelines and then once that happens then we would be able to, then Verizon would be able to come and put them in according to the guidelines,” said Mohlenhoff. 

Mohlenhoff also said that many members of the community expressed concern over the possible health risks that could come from 5G and the city is doing what it can to make sure this is done in the safest way possible but ultimately the final decision comes down to the FCC on whether or not 5G comes to Ithaca. 

“ We are doing what we can in order to impose guidelines and restrictions and hoping that we don't ultimately get overruled and get told that it does not matter if it is coming to your community no matter what,” said Mohlenhoff. 

The FDA says that any handheld consumer cellular device that is FCC approved is safe to use and this includes 5G phones. 

While many different forms of electronics give off radiation including phones and microwaves, the radiation that comes from these devices is non-ionizing which means it lacks sufficient energy to break apart DNA and cause cellular damage. 

Itai Cohen, a Physics professor at Cornell University said 5G would be a good addition to this growing city. 

“So bringing 5G and in terms of having a very low risk in terms of health has the potential to have a very high gain in terms of the economic prosperity and opportunities that the technology would bring,” said Cohen. 
 

At a time when economies are struggling due to the pandemic, Cohen said that 5G could not only help Ithaca become a more profitable area but it could also help it progress.

“ When you don't bring 5G into a community it becomes more isolated, it gets left behind from a technology point of view, it becomes a less attractive place for people to move to, for businesses to set up shop in,” said Cohen.