WASHINGTON-The wireless telecommunications industry said many carriers will not meet the Jan. 1 deadline when new radio frequency radiation safety guidelines go into effect.
The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association last week joined the Personal Communications Industry Association and a host of wireless carriers in seeking to extend the deadline to one year after the release of a Federal Communications Commission RF safety compliance procedures, known as OET (Office of Engineering and Technology) Bulletin No. 65.
The bulletin, which is being crafted with input from industry, supplements the hybrid RF safety guideline adopted Aug. 1 by the FCC that balanced industry and environmental interests and is stricter than the current standard. The FCC is expected to issue the bulletin by the end of next month.
CTIA held a meeting on the bulletin last Friday in Dallas.
The document will provide direction on how to calculate and measure RF exposure limits and how to control emissions so they conform to new RF safety guidelines. Carriers need to know, for example, whether or not a transmitter is considered a roof-top facility.
CTIA estimates nearly 25,000 cell sites are operated by cellular and personal communications services licenses. Antenna siting is proving to be a major challenge to PCS carriers even with new legislation that limits the power of local and state zoning authorities.
“Given the intense amount of resources the process (RF safety compliance) will require, many carriers will be unable to complete the evaluation process by the Jan. 1, 1997, deadline,” stated CTIA.
The trade group predicted a flood of waiver requests unless an extension is granted.
CTIA contracted Richard A. Tell Associates Inc. of Las Vegas to compile a report on engineering designs to reduce RF fields on rooftops. The report, scheduled to be published at the end of this month, also offers safety tips for workers on rooftops.
Tell was at the Environmental Protection Agency for 20 years and is considered an expert in RF field measurements.
