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Section 4A: Safety Guidelines 164
Government. While the FCC does not have the expertise to determine radiation
exposure guidelines on its own, it does have the expertise and authority to
recognize and adopt technically sound standards promulgated by other expert
agencies and organizations, and has done so . (Our joint efforts with the FDA in
developing this website is illustrative of the kind of inter-agency efforts and
consultation we engage in regarding this health and safety issue.)
Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the FCC has
certain responsibilities to consider whether its actions will significantly affect
the quality of the human environment. Therefore, FCC approval and licensing of
transmitters and facilities must be evaluated for significant impact on the
environment. Human exposure to RF radiation emitted by FCC-regulated
transmitters is one of several factors that must be considered in such
environmental evaluations. In 1996, the FCC revised its guidelines for RF
exposure as a result of a multi-year proceeding and as required by the
Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Radio and television broadcast stations, satellite-earth stations, experimental
radio stations and certain wireless communication facilities are required to
undergo routine evaluation for RF compliance when they submit an application
to the FCC for construction or modification of a transmitting facility or renewal
of a license. Failure to comply with the FCC's RF exposure guidelines could lead
to the preparation of a formal Environmental Assessment, possible
Environmental Impact Statement and eventual rejection of an application.
Technical guidelines for evaluating compliance with the FCC RF safety
requirements can be found in the FCC's OET Bulletin 65.
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulletins/#65
Low-powered, intermittent, or inaccessible RF transmitters and facilities are
normally excluded from the requirement for routine evaluation for RF exposure.
These exclusions are based on standard calculations and measurement data
indicating that a transmitting station or equipment operating under the
conditions prescribed is unlikely to cause exposures in excess of the guidelines
under normal conditions of use. Such exclusions are not exclusions from
compliance, but, rather, exclusions from routine evaluation. The FCC's policies
on RF exposure and categorical exclusion can be found in Section 1.1307(b) of
the FCC's Rules and Regulations [(47 CFR 1.1307(b)].
How can I obtain the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value for my
wireless phone?
The FCC requires that wireless phones sold in the United States demonstrate
compliance with human exposure limits adopted by the FCC in 1996. The
relative amount of RF energy absorbed in the head of a wireless telephone-user
is given by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), as explained above. The FCC
requires wireless phones to comply with a safety limit of 1.6 watts per kilogram
(1.6 W/kg) in terms of SAR.
Information on SAR for a specific phone model can be obtained for many
recently manufactured phones using the FCC identification (ID) number for that