LONDON -- Bermuda's Communities Against Radiation Emissions (CARE) may be interested to learn of the development in Britain of a tiny microchip that could signal the end of controversial cellular phone towers.

The Times newspaper reported last month that engineers at Leeds University have developed a small transmitter box containing a microchip which they believe could be used to reduce the "countryside blight'' of cell phone masts. The match-head sized microchip would also significantly cut the signal radiation fuelling public health concerns.

The engineers believe their transmitter boxes could be on the market within a year.

"All the equipment necessary to receive and transmit a signal could be included in a box the size of a cigarette packet,'' developer of the chip Michael Roberts told The Times newspaper.

"It would make the transmitters we see in the countryside redundant and drastically improve reception in areas where it is difficult to get a signal.

That's because the boxes could be attached virtually anywhere, on a lamp post, a bridge, the side of a building.'' The new microchip works by allowing low-frequency signals such as a person's voice to piggyback on much higher electronic frequencies, such as those used for radar, which travel at faster speeds. Current technology sends slower signals which require larger, more powerful transmitters. The Leeds research team believes it could have a prototype ready within a year selling for as little as 100.

One box would meet the cell phone needs of a single English village. However, thousands of the boxes would be needed to cover a country the size of Britain.

But a spokesperson for leading UK cellular/mobile phone provider Vodafone said the microchip could "revolutionise the industry''.

Britain has close to 13,000 phone towers erected, while Bermuda has 37. CARE is fighting erection of the Island's 38th cell phone mast in a Warwick residential area near Dunscombe Road.

Bermuda Digital Company is erecting the tower to provide a second cellular service to Bermudians. CARE leader Steve Thompson last week called for a boycott of BDC, claiming it is being a bad corporate citizen by not listening to the community.

Britain is facing similar community objection to cell phone towers because they represent an eyesore and there are fears their radiation may cause cancer in humans.

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