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14. Does the FCC maintain a database that includes information on the
location and technical parameters of all the transmitting towers
it regulates?
Each of the FCC Bureaus maintains its own licensing database system
for the service(s) it regulates (e.g., television, cellular service,
satellite earth stations). The FCC issues two types of licenses: site
specific and market based. In the case of site specific licensed
facilities, technical operating information is collected from the
licensee as part of the licensing process. However, in the case of
market based licensing (e.g., PCS, cellular), the licensee is granted
the authority to operate a radio communications system in a
geographic area using as many facilities as are required, and the
licensee is not required to provide the FCC with specific location and
operating parameters of these facilities.
Information on site specific licensed facilities can be found the
“General Menu Reports” (GenMen) at
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/genmen/index.hts.
The various FCC Bureaus also publish on at least a weekly basis, bulk
extracts of their licensing databases. Each licensing database has its
own unique file structure. These extracts consist of multiple, very
large files. The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET)
maintains an index to these databases at
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/database/fadb.html. Entry points into the
various databases include frequency, state/county,
latitude/longitude, call-sign and licensee name. For further
information on the Commission's existing databases, you can contact
Donald Campbell at
dcampbel@fcc.gov or 202-418-2405.
15. Can local and state governmental bodies establish limits for RF
exposure?
Although some local and state governments have enacted rules and
regulations about human exposure to RF energy in the past, the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires the Federal Government
to control human exposure to RF emissions. In particular, Section
704 of the Act states that, “No State or local government or
instrumentality thereof may regulate the placement, construction,
and modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of
the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent
that such facilities comply with the Commission's regulations
concerning such emissions.” Further information on federal
Section 4: Safety Guidelines and Warranty Information
4A: Safety 221