Mobile communications in Murnau: the municipality has only limited influence

What leeway does Markt Murnau have when it comes to mobile communications?

Two experts have now caused disillusionment in a special meeting of the local council.

Tenor: The municipality can not prevent such radio systems, but only have a say in the question of location.

Murnau

- When it comes to mobile communications, opinions are divided: for most of them, wireless communication should be a matter of course. But there are also voices that warn of the possible health risks of electromagnetic radiation. The new, super-fast 5G standard, which is supposed to offer data transmission in real time, is met with skepticism and rejection. In Murnau, a critical debate has flared up again and again in the past - also in local politics. At the beginning of 2020, the Energy, Environment and Transport Committee even decided not to actively support the 5G offensive and not to make any community-owned areas or buildings available until there is consensus on the harmlessness of this technology. This position was later revised.

Lawyer and appraiser advise local politicians

But the authority of the municipality in terms of the expansion is limited, as was now learned in a special meeting of the municipal council.

With the lawyer Frank Sommer and the expert Hans Ulrich, the administration invited two experts on the complex subject to a video conference.

Their message was clear: the market cannot prevent the installation of radio masts and systems.

Because there is a public interest in a comprehensive and efficient supply.

The municipality cannot influence whether 5G is used or an older generation.

Not even on the limit values ​​set by the federal government.

"The problem is the evaluation and classification of the scientific findings," said Sommer.

The only undisputed and therefore relevant for the legislature is the fact that electromagnetic fields heat the human body above a certain strength.

There are the aforementioned maximum loads that must not be exceeded.

However, it is not clear whether there are other risks in addition to this thermal effect.

"That is anything but clear," said the lawyer.

Dialogue procedure with the network providers

The decisive factor for the community is that it can very well take precautionary measures, i.e. protect its citizens from a possible threat and urge them to position the antennas with low emissions. There are two levers available to her: she can enter into a so-called dialogue process with a mobile phone provider who is pursuing a plan with which she does not agree and suggest alternatives. Or it specifies the locations via building law, for example in the zoning plan. The experts recommended dialogue - an approach with which Murnau has already had good experiences. "That is the most effective approach," said Ulrich. The other variant is much more complex. And it carries the risk that resistance will arise and one will fail in the end. "I wouldn't go in there without a pinch," said Sommer.

In the opinion of Mayor Rolf Beuting (ÖDP / Bürgerforum), the Staffelsee-Ort is on the right track: "In my opinion, Murnau is already well positioned when it comes to mobile communications, as we always enter into a dialogue process with the mobile communications providers for new construction projects and take precautionary measures bring in the discussion, ”he explains.

The aim is to find locations with the lowest possible emissions.

"We put a lot of effort into this, but the health protection of our citizens is worth it to us," emphasizes the town hall chief.

In his eyes, mobile communications are an important infrastructure.

Many are dependent on it.

However, Beuting continued, it would be desirable for precautionary values ​​for mobile communications to be included in the law.