135Although the existing scientific data do not justify FDA regulatory actions, FDA hasurged the wireless phone industry to take a number of steps, including the following:• Support needed research into possible biological effects of RF of the type emittedby wireless phones;• Design wireless phones in a way that minimizes any RF exposure to the user that isnot necessary for device function; and• Cooperate in providing users of wireless phones with the best possible informationon possible effects of wireless phone use on human health.FDA belongs to an interagency working group of the federal agencies that haveresponsibility for different aspects of RF safety to ensure coordinated efforts at thefederal level. The following agencies belong to this working group:• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health• Environmental Protection Agency• Federal Communications Commission• Occupational Safety and Health Administration• National Telecommunications and Information AdministrationThe National Institutes of Health participates in some interagency working groupactivities, as well.FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for wireless phones with the FederalCommunications Commission (FCC). All phones that are sold in the United Statesmust comply with FCC safety guidelines that limit RF exposure. FCC relies on FDAand 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 phonesthemselves, the RF exposures that people get from these base stations are typicallythousands of times lower than those they can get from wireless phones. Basestations are thus not the primary subject of the safety questions discussed in thisdocument.
