Appendix C: Consumer Update on Wireless Phones153forced to boost its power to compensate, leading to anincrease in RF absorption. In February 2002, the Federaltrade Commission (FTC) charged two companies that solddevices that claimed to protect wireless phone users fromradiation with making false and unsubstantiated claims.According to FTC, these defendants lacked a reasonablebasis to substantiate their claim.9. What about wireless phone interference with medicalequipment?Radio frequency energy (RF) from wireless phones caninteract with some electronic devices. For this reason, FDAhelped develop a detailed test method to measureelectromagnetic interference (EMI) of implanted cardiacpacemakers and defibrillators from wireless telephones.This test method is now part of a standard sponsored bythe Association for the Advancement of Medicalinstrumentation (AAMI). The final draft, a joint effort byFDA, medical device manufacturers, and many othergroups, was completed in late 2000. This standard willallow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac pacemakersand defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI.FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheldwireless phones and helped develop a voluntary standardsponsored by the Institute of Electrical and ElectronicEngineers (IEEE). This standard specifies test methods andperformance requirements for hearing aids and wirelessphones so that no interference occurs when a person usesa compatible phone and a compatible hearing aid at thesame time. This standard was approved by the IEEE in2000.
