FCC Issues Order, NPRM on RF Safety With Rosenworcel Concurrence
The FCC wants to update its record to address RF safety challenges "presented by evolving technological advances," it said Wednesday in docket 19-226 after a 5-0 vote. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel concurred, without issuing a statement. The action includes an order…
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and NPRM. After reviewing the extensive record submitted in response to an inquiry, "we find no appropriate basis for and thus decline to propose amendments to our existing limits at this time," the FCC said. Chairman Ajit Pai circulated an item a few months ago to keep current limits in place, while making a few updates (see 1908080061). "Despite requests from some to increase and others to decrease the existing limits, we believe they reflect the best available information concerning safe levels of RF exposure for workers and members of the general public, including inputs from our sister federal agencies charged with regulating safety and health and from well-established international standards," the commission said now. "Based on our existing limits, we revise our implementing rules to reflect modern technology and today’s uses. We streamline our criteria for determining when a licensee is exempt from our RF exposure evaluation criteria." The NPRM asks about "targeted proposals on the application of our RF emission exposure limits for future uses of wireless technologies" and proposes to "formalize an additional limit for localized RF exposure and the associated methodology for compliance for portable devices operating at high frequencies." It also proposes allowing wireless power transfer equipment under parts 15 and 18, with specific exposure limits. CTIA responded that "as the FCC states, 'no scientific evidence establishes a causal link between wireless device use and cancer or other illnesses.'”