OAKLAND — About 100 parents and residents gathered in front of the North Oakland Community Charter School on Friday to protest the proposed installation of a Verizon Telecom facility across the street from the school on 42nd Street.

The protesters were concerned about the safety of electromagnetic field radio-frequency waves that would be emitted by nine cell antennas at the facility. Some studies have indicated that the emissions could lead to long-term health side effects, including cancer. Others indicate that the emission levels generated by cell antennas are harmless.

"I just think it's really important that consideration be taken that there's a school across the street, and that the community be heard," Emeryville City Councilmember Jennifer West said. West is also the parent of a student at the school. "We don't want to subject our kids to radiation that may be harmful 20 years from now."

The proposed site is also less than a block from Anna Yates Elementary School in Emeryville. About 500 students attend the schools.

Current Federal Communications Commission guidelines have not been adjusted since 1996, and have been criticized for not taking into consideration potential biological effects of this type of emissions.

Paul Kalbach, who operates a video production business out of his home across the street from the building, is concerned that the waves may affect the quality of his productions.

"I've been living across the building for 39 years," he said. "Aside from the health concerns, I'm worried that this will prevent me from giving clean audio and video to my clients."

The parents will present their concerns to the Oakland City Council on Tuesday. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 stipulates that so long as the proposed facility follows FCC and FDA guidelines, environmental concerns regarding radio frequency waves cannot be cause for not allowing proposed sites.

"The equipment used to power the cell site will be located indoors, the antennas will be screened, and the backup generator will be enclosed in the rear of the building," Verizon spokeswoman Heidi Flato said. "We always follow the guidelines set forth by the FCC. We also work with local planning departments and zoning officials when determining a site."

In 2009, the Los Angeles Unified School District called for a cautionary approach with the construction of cell antennas, urging the FCC to reconsider the levels it considers safe.