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Action Alert: Submit Comments to the FCC on 5G and Cell Tower Radiation

Apr 13, 2020 | 0 comments

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UPDATE: The FCC Docket #19-226 Remains Open. You Can Submit Today. 

Please send in comments today. 

Yet again, the FCC has released new rules allowing high levels of human exposure to 5G, cell tower and wireless radiation. The new rules continue to open the door for wireless companies to deploy 5G and wireless infrastructure.  The FCC opened Docket No. 19-226 for public comments on their proposed rules.

In making a decision, the FCC is only required to consider the information submitted to this docket.  And, they can only be held to account legally for making an inappropriate or bad decision if the information showing that they did so is in this docket.  Thus, we need everyone to submit information they consider to be relevant.  Please make sure your voice is heard, so the FCC feels the pressure.  Please see below for details

What you can do today.

Everyone can file comments to ensure the FCC has the scientific facts on the record. Please consider submitting a filing (a statement, scientific research, see below) to the FCC. It is critical that the FCC hear from the public and experts.

  • Please ensure your submission has documented scientific evidence showing a biological effect from non-ionizing radiation. Important-  If you have links to scientific studies please state the following, “Links hereby incorporated by reference” to ensure that the study becomes a part of the record.  We prefer you paste the entire study with the full abstract and citation with full reference into the comments.
  • Please be sure to clarify what you think the impact will be if the FCC allows rules to move forward. Some things you should know about the rules.
  • They set allowable limits for the higher frequencies to be used in 5G based on heating only, not biological impacts. The rules ask questions about how to measure the radiation with averages- despite the fact that averaging is an inadequate way to measure these frequencies in terms of biological effects.

See the filing in the Federal Register  here that your comments are responding to  Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields A Proposed Rule by the Federal Communications Commission .

You must comment before the end date of June 3,  2020.

How to File to the FCC Docket No. 19-226 

  • Online: Go to the  Federal Communications Commission’s Website: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Go to the top of the page where it states “Submit a filing” Click on that. Fill out the form.
    • Under Proceedings put in 19-226.  Be sure to get a confirmation number.
  • Mail: Filings can be sent to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
  • People with Disabilities: Contact the Commission to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.

 

Some excerpts from the newly proposed rules found at  Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields A Proposed Rule by the Federal Communications Commission . 

The FCC referenced the FDA as a source showing there is no danger to children from cellular radiation, “With respect to any special considerations for children and consumer information, we refer to the FDA website, which states that “[t]he scientific evidence does not show a danger to any users of cell phones from RF exposure, including children and teenagers.”

The FCC also again quotes the FDA as part of their proof of safety for these higher frequencies stating, “I want to underscore that based on our ongoing evaluation of this issue and taking into account all available scientific evidence we have received, we have not found sufficient evidence that there are adverse health effects in humans caused by exposures at or under the current radiofrequency energy exposure limits. Even with frequent daily use by the vast majority of adults, we have not seen an increase in events like brain tumors. Based on this current information, we believe the current safety limits for cell phones are acceptable for protecting the public health.”

The FDA reaffirms the limits as based on heating only , ignoring biological effects and states, “We are unaware of any reason the limits should be different above 100 GHz than across the already existing wide frequency range. As the difference in body penetration further diminishes towards zero, there is no apparent reason to expect that thermal effects will effectively change in the increasingly higher frequencies. Accordingly, we propose to extend the same constant exposure limits that presently apply from 6 GHz to 100 GHz up to an upper frequency of 3,000 GHz (3 THz), which is considered to be the upper bound of existing radiofrequency bands.”

“The Commission’s RF exposure rules do not yet specify a spatial maximum power density limit for localized exposure at higher frequencies. As portable devices are being developed for operation at higher frequencies for future 5G services in millimeter-wave bands, we propose a general localized power density exposure limit above 6 GHz of 4 mW/cm2 averaged over 1 cm² for the general population or uncontrolled exposure, applicable up to the upper frequency boundary of 3 THz, also proposed above.”

“The Commission further seeks comment on what factors it should consider to ensure that the RF beam from the transmitting unit is closely concentrated at the receiving unit, such that RF energy along the path(s) does not exceed the applicable RF exposure limit for any human that may be situated along the path(s)…”

“If the Commission establishes power limits, what should be the basis for such limits, and should any consideration be given to potential harmful interference to other non-part 18 devices, given the popularity of these ISM frequency bands for consumer devices? With respect to the potential for harmful interference from wireless power transfer devices to active medical devices that may be worn or implanted (e.g., body worn insulin pumps, implantable cardiac pacemakers, implantable deep brain stimulators (DBS), spinal cord stimulators, and the like), what mitigation techniques should be required?”