Section 4A: Safety Guidelines 174Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the FCC hascertain responsibilities to consider whether its actions will significantly affectthe quality of the human environment. Therefore, FCC approval and licensingof transmitters and facilities must be evaluated for significant impact on theenvironment. Human exposure to RF radiation emitted by FCC-regulatedtransmitters is one of several factors that must be considered in suchenvironmental evaluations. In 1996, the FCC revised its guidelines for RFexposure as a result of a multi-year proceeding and as required by theTelecommunications Act of 1996.Radio and television broadcast stations, satellite-earth stations, experimentalradio stations and certain wireless communication facilities are required toundergo routine evaluation for RF compliance when they submit anapplication to the FCC for construction or modification of a transmitting facilityor renewal of a license. Failure to comply with the FCC's RF exposureguidelines could lead to the preparation of a formal Environmental Assessment,possible Environmental Impact Statement and eventual rejection of anapplication. Technical guidelines for evaluating compliance with the FCCRF safety requirements can be found in the FCC's OET Bulletin 65.http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulletins/#65.Low-powered, intermittent, or inaccessible RF transmitters and facilities arenormally excluded from the requirement for routine evaluation for RFexposure. These exclusions are based on standard calculations andmeasurement data indicating that a transmitting station or equipment operatingunder the conditions prescribed is unlikely to cause exposures in excess of theguidelines under normal conditions of use. Such exclusions are not exclusionsfrom compliance, but, rather, exclusions from routine evaluation. The FCC'spolicies on RF exposure and categorical exclusion can be found in Section1.1307(b) of the FCC's Rules and Regulations [(47 CFR 1.1307(b)].How can I obtain the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value for mywireless phone?The FCC requires that wireless phones sold in the United States demonstratecompliance with human exposure limits adopted by the FCC in 1996. Therelative amount of RF energy absorbed in the head of a wireless telephone-useris given by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), as explained above. The FCCrequires wireless phones to comply with a safety limit of 1.6 watts per kilogram(1.6 W/kg) in terms of SAR.Information on SAR for a specific phone model can be obtained for manyrecently manufactured phones using the FCC identification (ID) number forthat model. The FCC ID number is usually printed somewhere on the case ofthe phone. Sometimes it may be necessary to remove the battery pack to findthe number. Once you have the ID number, go to the following Web address:www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid. On this page, you will see instructions for entering theFCC ID number. Type the FCC ID number exactly as requested (the GranteeCode is the first three characters, the Equipment Product Code is the rest of theFCC ID number). Then click on “Start Search.” The “Grant of EquipmentAuthorization” for your telephone should appear. Read through the grant forthe section on “SAR Compliance,” “Certification of Compliance with FCC Rules
