FAQ
What is the National Radio Quiet Zone?
The National Radio Quiet Zone is a 13,000-square-mile protected region across West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. Created in 1958 to shield the Green Bank Telescope from wireless interference, it maintains one of the lowest-signal environments in the nation so essential scientific research can continue without disruption.
Why is this area important for human health?
Wireless companies are pursuing infrastructure expansion in and around the Quiet Zone, which would raise RF levels and undermine both the scientific purpose of the zone and the safety it provides to EMR-S residents. Without stronger protections, this unique low-level wireless exposure environment — and the lives and research it supports — would be permanently lost.
What are local residents doing to protect it?
Residents are working to strengthen West Virginia Code § 37A-1, the state’s “Radio Astronomy Zoning Act,” by adding clear protections within a 10-mile radius of the Green Bank Observatory. These amendments aim to reinforce RF limits, safeguard property rights, and preserve this essential sanctuary for scientific research, human health, and the environment. Green Bank residents are working with the Stop5G.org initiative for legal representation, assisting with legislative drafting, and building community support. Donations help fund legal action, policy advocacy, and public education to preserve one of the last true quiet zones in the nation.