Update for Information On Human Exposure To Radiofrequency Fields From Cellular Radio Transmitters

September 1997

In 1996, the FCC adopted updated guidelines for evaluating human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields from transmitting antennas such as those used for cellular radio. The new guidelines for cellular base stations are identical to those recommended by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) discussed on page 2 of the FCC information sheet. These guidelines are also essentially the same as the 1992 guidelines recommended by the American National Standards Institute and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992), also discussed on page 2, for operating frequencies above 1500 MHz. The FCC adopted guidelines for hand-held RF devices, such as cellular telephones, that are the same as those recommended by the 1992 ANSI/IEEE guidelines, discussed on page 4 of the information sheet.

The FCC adopted a transition period for implementing the new guidelines with respect to applications for fixed stations that was recently extended to October 15, 1997, for all station transmitters except amateur radio stations, for which the transition period ends January 1, 1998. For hand-held devices, there was no transition period, and implementation of those guidelines occurred in August of 1996.

For more information on these and other RF-related topics, you may contact the FCC's toll-free number: 1-888-CALL FCC (1-888-225-5322). Information is also available at the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology World Wide Web Site under the "RF Safety" heading at the following address: www.fcc.gov/oet/