NEWSReport No. DC 96-76    ACTION IN DOCKET CASE             August 1, 1996

       FCC UPDATES ITS GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL
                  EFFECTS OF RADIOFREQUENCY EMISSIONS;
                Action Implements Telecom Act Provisions
                           (ET Docket No. 93-62)

       The FCC has adopted new guidelines and methods for evaluating the environmental
effects of radiofrequency ("RF") emissions from FCC-regulated transmitters, such as cellular
and PCS antennas and telephones, radio and television broadcast antennas and satellite
communications antennas.  The Commission said the updated guidelines generally are more
stringent than the current rules, and are based on recommendations of the federal health and
safety agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug
Administration.

       The Commission stated that the new rules will protect the public and workers from
strong RF emissions.  Completion of this proceeding also satisfies the requirements of Section
704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

       The Commission has adopted Maximum Permissible Exposure ("MPE") limits for
electric and magnetic field strength and power density for transmitters operating at
frequencies from 300 kHz to 100 GHz. These MPE limits are generally based on
recommendations of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement
("NCRP") and, in many respects, are also generally based on the guidelines issued by the
Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. ("IEEE") and subsequently adopted by
the American National Standards Institute ("ANSI") as an ANSI standard (ANSI/IEEE C95.1-
1992).   The Commission also adopted limits for specific absorption rate ("SAR") for
evaluating certain hand-held devices, such as cellular and PCS telephones, based on
ANSI/IEEE and NCRP recommendations.

       The new RF guidelines will apply to applications for stations filed with the FCC after
January 1, 1997.  The Commission said this should provide a reasonable transition period for
parties to come into compliance with the new requirements.  Guidelines and requirements for
evaluation of hand-held devices will apply immediately.

       The Commission also incorporated in its rules provisions of  Section 704 of the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996 which preempt State or local government regulation of
personal wireless services facilities based on RF environmental effects, to the extent that such
facilities comply with the Commission's rules concerning such RF emissions. 

        Action by the Commission August 1, 1996 by Report and Order (FCC 96-326).
Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness, and Chong, with Commissioners Quello and 
Chong issuing a joint statement.

   - FCC -

       News Media contact: Rochelle Cohen at (202) 418-0500. 
       Office of Engineering and Technology contact:  Radiofrequency Safety Program and
specifically Robert Cleveland at (202) 418-2464.
       Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact:  David Wye at (202) 418-0600.