Highlights

8/16/11
IARC Classification: On May 31, 2011, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified radiofrequency fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that this classification means that “there is limited evidence showing carcinogenicity in humans and less than sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals.” The National Cancer Institute suggests that the IARC classification fits with the handful of positive reports but overall inconsistent data concerning human carcinogenicity. Additional studies are under way, which may clarify questions not addressed by the research to date. A summary of the IARC assessment is available at The Lancet (free, registration required). The full assessment of carcinogenicity is to be published as a Monograph within the next year.
IARC Press Release: [PDF]


IINTERPHONE Study: [PDF]

5/18/10
INTERPHONE Study: The large international epidemiological study, Interphone, examining the correlation between brain tumors and cell phone use has been released.  The study concluded among other things that, “[o]verall, no increase in risk of either glioma or meningiomas was observed in association with use of mobile phones.  There were suggestions of an increase risk of glioma, and much less so meningioma, at the highest exposure levels [but] biases and errors limit the strength of the conclusions that we can draw from these analyses and prevent a causal interpretation.”  The US Food and Drug Administration stated that, “available scientific evidence—including World Health Organization (WHO) findings [INTERPHONE study] released May 17, 2010—shows no increased health risk due to radiofrequency (RF) energy, a form of electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by cell phones.”

IINTERPHONE Study: [PDF]

8/14/03
Commission denies EMR Network Application for Review contesting decision on petition for inquiry regarding environmental effects of radiofrequency radiation.
(FCC No. 03-191): [PDF | Word ]
Commissioner Copps: [PDF | Word]

6/26/03
Proposed Changes in the Commission's Rules Regarding Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields. [ET Docket No. 03-137]
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: [PDF | Word | TXT]
Chairman Powell: [PDF | Word | TXT]

Comments filed in this rulemaking docket can be found by clicking on the link “Search For Filed Comments” at the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System webpage and by entering 03-137 in the “Proceeding” field.

6/26/03
FCC proposes changes in the Commission's Rules and Procedures regarding human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic energy.
[PDF | Word | TXT]

11/20/02
FCC proposes to fine broadcast station for violation of radiofrequency radiation limits.
[HTML]

6/19/02
OET releases Public Notice announcing transition period for requirements in Supplement C to OET Bulletin 65 for phantom models used in SAR measurement procedures (DA 02-1438 Adobe | Word | Text, June 19, 2002). 7/19/02

6/19/02
Revised Version of Supplement C to Bulletin 65 Released. The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology has released a revised version of its Supplement C to OET Bulletin 65 providing updated guidelines for testing and evaluation portable and mobile devices for compliance with FCC limits for human exposure to RF emissions.

8/24/00
Reminder of September 1, 2000, Deadline for Compliance With Regulations for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Emissions, (Word document) Public Notice, DA 00-1950. [Text | Word].

2/25/00
Erratum: Year 2000 Deadline for Compliance with FCC's Regulations Regarding Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Emissions. FCC issues Erratum to correct error in a RF Safety related Public Notice. [Word97 | Text]

2/25/00
Year 2000 Deadline for Compliance with FCC's Regulations Regarding Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Emissions. FCC issues Public Notice to remind all licensees and grantees of September 1, 2000, final deadline for compliance with rules on human exposure to radiofrequency emissions.

10/21/99
Safety Guidelines for Hand-Held Cellular Telephones. On October 20, 1999, the ABC News show "20/20" aired a story about the safety of hand-held cellular telephones and their compliance with FCC safety and testing guidelines. The Commission would like to provide consumers with the following information relevant to these issues.