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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 For  Immediate  Release:  FCC  News  Media  Contact:  Tricia  Kinch  (202)  418-  2088  May  8,  2002  FDA  Media  Inquiries:  301-  827-  6242 
 FDA-  FCC  Cellular  Phone  and  RadioFrequency  Energy  Website  Posted  for  Public  Use  and  Comment 
 The  Food  and  Drug  Administration  (FDA)  and  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  (FCC)  have  established  a  joint  web  site,  Cell  Phone  Facts,  to  provide  consumer  information 
 regarding  cellular  phones  and  radiofrequency  (RF)  energy.  This  web  site  provides  the  public  with  information  from  both  government  agencies  involved  in  the  regulation  of  cell  phones  (also 
 known  as  wireless,  mobile,  or  PCS  phones)  and  their  base  stations.  It  provides  a  review  of  how  cell  phones  work  and  answers  questions  raised  about  their  safety.  It  also  includes  a  link  to  the 
 FCC’s  web  site  that  contains  additional  information  about  radiofrequency  safety  as  it  relates  to  other  sources  of  RF  energy. 


 Most  of  the  concerns  about  cell  phone  safety  involve  the  phone’s  production  of  RF  energy  from  a  source  close  to  the  head  or  body  of  the  user.  The  web  site  explains  that  although 
 cell  phones  use  RF  to  transmit  calls,  the  FCC  limits  the  amount  of  RF  energy  that  may  be  produced  by  a  cell  phone  to  safe  levels  and  the  levels  permitted  are  far  below  the  levels 
 determined  by  scientific  experts  to  have  the  potential  for  an  adverse  effect  on  humans.  It  also  observes  that  while  no  scientific  evidence  has  been  published  demonstrating  harm  from  short-term 
 exposures  to  low  levels  of  RF  energy,  studies  are  now  underway  to  look  at  the  possible  risks  of  long-  term  exposures.  The  results  of  any  such  studies  will  also  be  posted  on  the  web  site 
 and  both  agencies  will  take  follow-  up  action  as  appropriate. 
 The  new  web  site  summarizes  the  government’s  safety  standards  for  cell  phones  and  describes  the  role  of  each  agency  in  RF  safety  regulation.  It  also  explains  what  RF  energy  is, 
 how  it  is  used,  and  how  it  is  measured;  how  the  current  safety  standards  were  established;  the  role  of  local  and  state  governments;  and  where  to  obtain  additional  information  on  related  topics 
 from  other  sources.  The  FDA  and  the  FCC  will  periodically  update  the  website  in  response  to  queries  and  comments  received  from  the  public  and  as  new  information  becomes  available. 


 The  FDA-  FCC  RF  safety  web  site  is  available  for  public  use  and  comment  at  www.  fda.  gov/  cellphones  and  www.  fcc.  gov/  cellphones 
 FCC  Office  of  Engineering  &  Technology  Contact:  Bruce  Romano  (202)  418-  2470 
 FCC 
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