Ohio Lawmakers: Letters to the FCC on its Outdated Wireless Radiation Exposure Limits

Several Ohio lawmakers have written the FCC regarding its wireless radiation human exposure limits, unchanged since 1996. FCC limits have come under fire as the FCC has not responded to a federal court mandate to explain how its limits for cell tower radiation and the radio-frequency radiation from wireless networks and devices are protective. Residents across the nation are increasingly alarmed at the proliferation of cell towers near homes and schools. Numerous studies have linked cell tower radiation to health effects. Hundreds of scientists are calling for caution.

The 2021 U.S Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit judgment in Environmental Health Trust et al. v the FCC found the FCC’s refusal to update its 1996 limits to be “arbitrary and capricious” because it ignored the science on children’s vulnerability, on long term exposure, on non cancer impacts such as damage to memory and sperm, on environmental impacts (birds, bees trees etc) and the hundred of testimonies submitted by people reporting injuries.

Here are the letters:

Ohio State Rep. Cecil Thomas Letter to the FCC, Dec. 12, 2024

I respectfully request that you consider my constituent’s concerns and carefully re-evaluate the rules governing radiofrequency radiation and emissions, as the FCC was ordered to do by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2021.

Ohio State Representative P. Scott Lipps

We are writing you today to call attention to an issue presented to us by a Warren County resident. This resident voiced to us that the FCC’s agency rules and regulations regarding radiofrequency emissions may need to be updated. According to our resident, the human exposure limits regarding radiofrequency has not been updated since 1996.

Ohio State Representative Jennifer Gross

I respectfully request your attention concerning an issue that has been brought to me by a constituent. There is growing apprehension that FCC agency rules and regulations regarding radiofrequency emissions are outdated. Several constituents voiced concerns that human exposure limits regarding radiofrequency have not been updated since 1996. The ubiquity of cell towers and the associated levels of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure in my district has caused trepidation over the safety and well-being of residents in District 45.

Ohio State Representative Adam Mathews

I am writing you today to notify you of an issue brought forth to me by a constituent located in the 56th House District of Ohio. This constituent has expressed concern that the FCC’s agency rules and regulations governing radiofrequency emissions need to be updated. She noted to me that some of the rules governing exposure limits to radiofrequencies have gone un-updated since 1996, and she further expressed concern with the number of cell towers and the level of exposure in Warren County, Ohio.

Ohio Representative Cindy Abrams

I am writing to you today to call attention to an alarming issue brought to me by several residents of the 29th Ohio House District. These constituents expressed concerns that the FCC’s agency rules and regulations for radiofrequency emissions need to be updated. My constituents highlighted that the human exposure limits for radiofrequency have remained unchanged since 1996. Furthermore, there is great apprehension regarding the proliferation of cell towers and the associated levels of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure in Hamilton County, Ohio.

Ohio Senator Catherine Ingram

I am writing to you today to notify you of an issue brought to my attention… The constituent raise concerns about the FCC’s current agency rules and regulations regarding radiofrequency admissions, and explained the dire need to update these rules and regulations. The FCC’s guidelines for human exposure limits to radio frequency have not been updated since 1996.

Ohio Senator Steve Wilson

The FCC’s human exposure limits for radio frequency have not been updated since 1996 and she is greatly concerned with the number of cell towers and the levels of EMF exposure in Warren County, Ohio

Ohio 8th District State Senator, Louis W. Blessing III

The FCC’s human exposure limits for radiofrequency has not been updated since 1996, and she is greatly concerned with the number of cell towers and the levels of EMF exposure in Hamilton County, Ohio. I kindly request you consider my constituents concerns and re-evaluate the rules surrounding radiation.

The Community of Greenhills Village, Ohio

FCC agency rules and regulations pertaining to radiofrequency emissions have remained unchanged since first developed in 1996.

Elsewhere in the United States

Numerous lawmakers from various states have written the FCC. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon wrote a letter in 2022.

S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit wrote to the FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in 2023 (March 3rd press release here; March 28th letter here) and requested the following:

that the FCC and external partners review placing cell phone towers on school grounds,
that the FCC must become more responsive to the needs of our citizens and devise ways to increase trust among the American public,
that the FCC revise the RF limits,
that the FCC collaborate with leading researchers and academic institutions,
that the FCC promulgate essential research findings to the American public