Potential socio-economic, community health and safety impacts

5.3.1Investments in the telecommunications sector

• 
  Geographic and socio-economic range extension, providing access to telecommunications for rural, isolated and poor communities, contributing to sustained social progress;
  
• 
  Price and service advantages for consumers as a result of increased global competitiveness in the telecommunications sector; and
  
• 
  Enhanced quality of service, reduced delays in technological and market innovation, increased investment in the sector, and efficient allocation of scarce resources.
  

5.3.2Economic conditions

The local economic footprint of facilities is generally low in the telecommunication sector. However, the economic conditions (access to water and other public services) of the populations living nearby telecommunication facilities may be affected by the construction and operation of such facilities. This may be true if the construction and operation of the facilities utilizes local services, such as water, garbage disposal, etc.
In addition, the construction and operation of telecommunication facilities may be a source of employment for nearby residents.

5.3.3Indigenous Communities

The development of infrastructure in indigenous territories could pose a risk on the traditional culture and practices of indigenous populations. Construction works and the presence of foreign workforce in their territories could affect their lifestyles and customs wit the subsequent identity loss.
In the past, indigenous communities have opposed the development of infrastructure in their territories in Costa Rica. Claims include the visual impact of the tower paint. However, as indigenous peoples start using mobiles and request the service, towers are usually located at the borders of their community lands. They could request further telecom services in the future.
There are no references to installation of infrastructure for services in indigenous territories in the Indigenous Law. But on the other hand, the CONAI has among its objectives to “Serve as an instrument of coordination amonth the different public institutions obligated to execute the projects and lending services benefiting the indigenous communities”. This indicates that there is no prohibition to installations of service infrastructure in indigenous territories under the national legislation. According to the World Bank Safeguard Policy, OP 4.10 Indigenous Populations, it must establish a process of free, prior and informed consultation that incorporates the concerns of the affected populations and result in the support of the project. The project must prevent, minimize, mitigate and compensate for potential negative impacts assuring that the indigenous populations will receive appropriate social, economic and culturally appropriate benefits.
The experiences that Costa Rica has regarding projects located in indigenous territories are mainly hydroelectric projects. For these projects, a permit from the Association of Integral Development is required, in which the president of the community and the communal assembly establish the conditions for the agreement of the project. In these cases, the Environmental Assessment includes the requirements that the community in the project like telephone, lighting, road restoration, etc. ¹². When indigenous communities have an interest or participation in the project, ILO Convention 169 is taken into account regarding the Indigenous Communities.
Projects located in indigenous lands require a permit from the Association for Integrated Development, led by the community president and communal assembly to establish their conditions for the project agreement (this is usually done for hydro electrical projects). The International Labor Organization Convention 169 on Indigenous Communities is considered when indigenous communities are involved. The operational policy OP 4.10 Indigenous Peoples, developed by the World Bank, establishes a process of free, prior, and informed consultation whenever indigenous populations are involved. Environment Management Plans then include the community’s requests within the project, such as telephones, lighting, road repair, etc¹.

5.3.4Land acquisition and modification of land use

Road construction to access sites in remote rural areas may require land acquisition, which usually implies compensation to the landlord based on mutual agreement. Land from indigenous reserves cannot be leased, transferred or sold to non-natives. Therefore, access roads will be constructed in these areas only after public consultations and agreements with the community. This may cause changes in their usual lifestyle. Constructing access roads in rural, undeveloped or remote lands converts land use (i.e. from agricultural to transport) and facilitates access to previously non-colonized areas (i.e. clearing of forests for colonization).
In Costa Rica some access roads have been built to access sites located in Protected Areas (i.e Braulio Carrillo); however, these roads are not long enough (approximately 100 m long) to induce access for new colonization in the forest. Other remote areas are accessed by helicopter to avoid road construction.

5.3.5Cultural and archaeological findings

During construction works, archaeological findings may be encountered and potentially damaged, or broken. Culturally sensitive areas (i.e. where cultural practices occur) may become impacted both by construction and operation works, by modifying the religious or cultural value of a certain area.
Currently, should an archaeological piece be found, it is salvaged and a local study is conducted by an archaeologist to determine if further salvage is necessary.

5.3.6Public health and EMF

Although there is public and scientific concern over the potential health effects associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), there is no conclusive data demonstrating adverse health effects from exposure to typical EMFs levels from cellular phone communication base transceiver stations.
EMFs monitoring performed at cell towers in Costa Rica in 2006 revealed values one thousand times below those recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
Masts with antennae in urban areas are often located in close proximity to residential housing. The mast situated in Cartago that was visited by ERM consultants was located within less than five meters of residential buildings. Also, the ICE has received several complaints of residents nearby antenna towers in residential urban areas regarding public health risks of exposure to EMFs. The ICE has thus developed a more active approach in consulting with the concerned residents.

5.3.7Public Safety

Communities may be exposed to structural safety risks in the event of structural failure of masts or towers, especially in vulnerable areas such as those prone to earthquakes, flooding or steep slopes.
Regarding driver safety and cellular phone usage, telecommunication companies who provide cellular phone service have little or no influence over the safe use of these devices by the users. At the time of this report, the ICE had no campaign to promote the safe use of cell phones.

5.3.8Physical and aircraft security

Physical security issues may arise in cases where thieves enter telecommunication facilities to steal copper wires or other parts. The intrusion to facilities may be a physical hazard to the thieves themselves, as well as to the surrounding neighbors. There have been many reported cases of intrusion into the sites in urban and semi-urban areas.
Antenna towers located near airports or known flight paths can pose a risk to aircraft navigation security through collision masts or towers or through radar interference. The ICE consults with the DGAC prior to installation of any free-standing tower and adheres to their safety regulations.
Table 5.2 outlines the potential socio-economic impacts and the level of impact associated with the foreseen investments in the project.

Table 5.2 Potential Socio-economic Impacts

Issue	Impact	Project Phase
		Construction works	Operation and Maintenance
Investments	Geographic and socio-economic range extension of telecom services.		√
	Price and service advantages to consumer through competition.		√
	Enhanced quality of service and efficient allocation of scarce resources.		√
Economic conditions	Impacts on livelihoods, access to public services and infrastructure	*	**
	Employment creation	√	√
Indigenous Communities	Loss of identity, culture and customary livelihoods.	* *	* * *
	Access to telecom services		√
	Presence of foreign workforce could affect their lifestyles and customs.	* *
Land acquisition and modification of land use	Agreed compensation to landlord.	√
	No land acquisition in indigenous territories. If agreement is done, changes in lifestyle are foreseen.	* *
	Changes in land use (i.e. from agricultural to transport) and new access to previously non-colonized areas (i.e. clearing of forests for colonization).	* *	* * *
Cultural and archaeological findings	Archaeological findings may be damaged, broken or missed	*
	Culturally sensitive areas (i.e. where cultural practices occur) may become affected by modifying the religious or cultural value of a certain area.	*	*
Public health and EMF	No data demonstrating adverse health effects from exposure to typical EMF levels from cell towers.		*
Public safety	Structural failure of masts or towers; especially in vulnerable areas with risk of earthquakes, flooding or steep slopes.		*
Physical and aircraft security	Physical security issues include security risks for the thieves when entering facilities and the nearby residents.		*
	Collision of aircrafts with masts or towers or through radar interference.		*
Visual Impacts	Visual impacts in protected areas, tourist destination, and rural areas.		* *

Note:

* * * Major impact

* * Minor impact

* Minimal impact

√ Positive impact
The potential socio-economic impacts associated with this project are diverse. Extending the telecommunication services to rural areas increases the quality of service, competitiveness, contributing to sustained economic and social growth. The major risks associated with the project lie with the potential installation of towers in indigenous reserves, which requires additional permitting and public consultation processes as well as the development of an Indigenous Populations Plan for the subproject and may cause severe disruption of indigenous traditions, practices and customs. Acquiring land for the planned investments may also be source of impacts on current land use.

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