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Appendix 179
• Support needed research into possible biological effects of RF of the
type emitted by wireless phones;
• Design wireless phones in a way that minimizes any RF exposure to the
user that is not necessary for device function; and
• Cooperate in providing users of wireless phones with the best possible
information on possible effects of wireless phone use on human health.
FDA belongs to an interagency working group of the federal agencies that
have responsibility for different aspects of RF safety to ensure coordinated
efforts at the federal level. The following agencies belong to this working
group:
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Federal Communications Commission
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Institutes of Health participates in some inter-agency working
group activities, as well. FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for wireless
phones with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). All phones
that are sold in the United States must comply with FCC safety guidelines
that limit RF exposure. FCC relies on FDA and other health agencies for
safety questions about wireless phones. FCC also regulates the base stations
that the wireless phone networks rely upon. While these base stations
operate at higher power than do the wireless phones themselves, the RF
exposures that people get from these base stations are typically thousands
of times lower than those they can get from wireless phones. Base stations
are thus not the subject of the safety questions discussed in this document.
3. What kinds of phones are the subject of this update?
The term “wireless phone” refers here to hand-held wireless phones with
built-in antennas, often called “cell,” “mobile,” or “PCS” phones. These types of
wireless phones can expose the user to measurable radiofrequency energy
(RF) because of the short distance between the phone and the user’s head.