Dear Editor:
Your April 8th issue, which uses anonymous sources to question the relevance of the Wireless Technology Research L.L.C. scientific program, is incorrect and misleading to a consuming public interest in the conclusions of WTR’s public health research into cellular telephone safety.
WTR is an internationally recognized independent research group, organized to address issues of potential public health risks from wireless communication technologies and develop a scientific database upon which public health decisions can be made.
WTR funding was established within strict financial criteria and structural procedures-such as a one-way, deposit-only escrow fund-to guarantee absolute non-interference by the telecommunications industry. As for WTR’s relevance, Congress’ major research agency, the Office of Technology Assessment, said in a report that WTR’s program “may provide some answers to recently raised questions about the health effects of wireless telecommunications.” The Food and Drug Administration’s Dr. Elizabeth Jacobson was quoted last year by the Associated Press as saying “*…*I think it (the WTR research program) will be a tremendous benefit to everybody involved.”
From the beginning, the independence of the WTR research effort was paramount. WTR relies upon the integrity of the 150 scientists and institutions working in its program, the rigor of its scientific peer review program, the openness of its processes, the involvement of federal regulatory agencies and the promise of industry to provide financial support without any effort to interfere with or influence the scientific work.
Now, halfway through a five-year program, WTR has achieved a significant understanding of key scientific issues regarding wireless technology by setting up a research program unique to this emerging issues. WTR’s accomplishments over this time include:
Issuing an epidemiology study comparing portable cellular telephone customers with users of other mobile phones, which shows nearly identical mortality rates;
Completing a clinical epidemiology protocol to study cellular telephones and potential pacemaker interference and announced multi-million dollar funding of interference research at several institutions;
Issuing an over 100-page, international Request for Proposals, seeking to fund specific, state-of-the-art research projects relevant to wireless communication, as well as releasing 2 1/2 years of research information accumulated by WTR from scientists around the world;
Holding an international State of the Science Colloquium in Rome, Italy, attended by leading scientists from government, academia and industry to discuss research evaluating the potential public health risks from wireless technology.
In summary, the WTR research program has become an unparalleled undertaking in the field of science-literally the largest independent research project of its kind in the world. The public should be made more aware in RCR of these important scientific facts with far less space devoted to anonymous snipping or commentary from unattributed, and largely uninformed, sources.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Volpe
WTR Public Relations Consultant
RCR Publications welcomes letters to the editor responding to articles and commentary presented in the newspaper or stating opinions on other topics relevant to the industry.
Letters must be signed by the author. RCR reserves the right to edit letters for style and space. Letters can be mailed to the company at 777 E. Speer Blvd., Denver, CO 80203, sent by fax to (303) 733-9941, or sent by e-mail to [email protected].
