EMR Network’s request that the Federal Communications Commission consider revisiting its radio-frequency radiation regulations and guidelines has been denied.
EMR was fighting the earlier dismissal of a 2001 petition for inquiry that requested the FCC gather information to revise regulations for RF radiation. The FCC upheld the decision by the Office of Engineering and Technology, determining the FCC is “not the most appropriate forum to initiate such an inquiry.”
EMR argued that the FCC’s RF limits are outdated and disagrees with the FCC’s reliance on agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
But in its ruling, the FCC contended “OET’s fundamental premise-our reliance on the expertise of health and safety agencies in this area-is our sound guiding principle, and EMR has failed to advance any argument that persuades us otherwise.”
Even so, Commissioner Michael Copps issued a statement reading: “I write separately to stress that in this order the Commission reaffirms its commitment to monitor developments related to the biological effects of RF energy. Should additional scientific evidence emerge, concerned parties should bring such evidence to our attention. Evidence of this type could mean that the commission would have a ‘basis for opening a rulemaking or fact-finding proceeding.’ “
