America's quietest town in jeopardy?

The lack of funds by 2017 could potentially affect West Virginia’s Green Bank reputation as America’s quietest town.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, which is considered the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope, is operated at an annual cost of US$10 million, a year.

A committee from the federal government recommended for the shut down of the telescope, which is currently funded by National Science Foundation (NSF).

Should NSF fails to secure new funds, it could also mean the end of America’s technology-free town.

According to Washingtonian, since the telescope requires technological silence to operate, the United States Federal Communications Commission established the 13,000-square-mile National Radio Quiet Zone in 1958.

It means most forms of modern communication like mobile phones and wi-fi are banned under state law within ten square miles of Green Bank.

The website continued to explain that local residents are allowed to use land-line phones and wired internet.

The end of operating the telescope could divide the “old-time” residents who are ready for modernity, and the newcomers who regard themselves “electrosensitives”.

The latter seek refuge at Green Bank as their health is affected due to electromagnetic frequencies from mobile phones, wi-fi networks, radio waves, Bluetooth and other forms of modern technology.

Washingtonian reported that Diana Schou became one of the first electrosensitives to move to Green Bank in 2007.

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At first, she considered buying a re-purposed space that could block the signals in her native Iowa.

“I was told it would be $24,000. I don’t have that kind of money. And what if it gets a hole in it? Coming to Green Bank was a culture shock.

If you want to have Starbucks and shopping malls, you won’t survive here,” she told Washingtonian.

During her tenure at the Green Bank, Schou had asked the church to change its fluorescent lights, not use its wireless microphones and for people stop using their mobile phones as cameras around her.

Local residents obliged to her many requests but many residents began to protest when Schou asked for her food to be delivered to her from the senior center’s kitchen so should would not have to walk under fluorescent lights.

The disputes between old-timers and newcomers continued.

“There have been some rough spots in dealing with other members of the community. They want everybody in the stores and restaurants to change their lighting or turn their lights off when they’re there, which creates some issues,” said Sheriff David Jones from the Pocahontas County department.

Meanwhile, the new generation are bemoaning the unavailability of “cool gadgets” that they see on television.

According to the website, kids may have smartphones but instead of using a cellular network, they use the wi-fi network installed at home, which has not been detected by the telescope’s protectors.

As NSF would only make its decision later in the year, some residents are eager for modernity.

“We’ll be so far out of the loop one of these days that we won’t be able to catch up. I think it’s gonna turn us into a bunch of dinosaurs. People come back home and think we’re living in the dark ages,” said Harold Crist.