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Section 4A: Safety Guidelines 133
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 model. The FCC ID number is usually printed somewhere on the case of
the phone. Sometimes it may be necessary to remove the battery pack to find
the number. Once you have the ID number, go to the following Web address:
www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid. On this page, you will see instructions for entering the
FCC ID number. Type the FCC ID number exactly as requested (the Grantee
Code is the first three characters, the Equipment Product Code is the rest of the
FCC ID number). Then click on “Start Search.” The “Grant of Equipment
Authorization” for your telephone should appear. Read through the grant for
the section on “SAR Compliance,” “Certification of Compliance with FCC Rules