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emitted by wireless phones;
• Design wireless phones in a way that
minimizes any RF exposure to the user
that is not necessary for device
function; and
• Cooperate in providing users of wireless
phones with the best possible
information on possible effects of
wireless phone use on human health.
FDA belongs to an interagency working
group of the federal agencies that have
responsibility for different aspects of RF
safety to ensure coordinated efforts at the
federal level. The following agencies belong
to this working group:
• National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
• National Telecommunications and
Information Administration
The National Institutes of Health
participates in some interagency working
group activities, as well
FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for
wireless phones with the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). All
phones that are sold in the United States
must comply with FCC safety guidelines
that limit RF exposure. FCC relies on FDA
and other health agencies for safety
questions about wireless phones.
FCC also regulates the base stations that
the wireless phone networks rely upon.
While these base stations operate at higher
power than do the wireless phones
themselves, the RF exposures that people
get from these base stations are typically
thousands of times lower than those they
can get from wireless phones. Base stations
are thus not the subject of the safety
questions discussed in this document.
3. What kinds of phones are the subject
of this update?
The term “wireless phone” refers here to
hand-held wireless phons with built-in
antennas, often called “cell”, “mobile”, or
“PCS” phones. These types of wireless
phones can expose the user to measurable
radiofrequency energy(RF) because of the
short distance between the phone and the
user’s head.
SAFETY GUIDELINES
ID90C_Eng 9/22/06 5:24 PM Page 89
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