64
Appendix
Appendix
65
“normal usage” while using their hearing aid with
the particular wireless phone. “Normal usage” in
this context is defined as a signal quality that is
acceptable for normal operation.
The M mark is intended to be synonymous
with the U mark. The T mark is intended to
be synonymous with the UT mark. The M and
T marks are recommended by the Alliance for
Telecommunications Industries Solutions (ATIS). The
U and UT marks are referenced in Section 20.19 of
the FCC Rules. The HAC rating and measure-ment
procedure are described in the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) C63.19 standard.
For information about hearing aids and digital
wireless phone
• Fcc Hearing Aid Compatibility and Volume
Control
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/hearing.
html
• Gallaudet University, RERC
http://tap.gallaudet.
edu/voice
• Self Help for Hard of Hearing People Inc.
[SHHH]
http://www.hearingloss.org
• The Hearing Aid Compatibility FCC Order
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attach‐
match/FCC‐03‐168A1.pdf
H �
FDA CONSUMER UPDATE
U.S. Food and Drug
Administration - Center for
Devices and Radiological Health Consumer
Update on Wireless Phones
1. Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show
that any health problems are associated with
using wireless phones. There is no proof, however,
that wireless phones are absolutely safe. Wireless
phones emit low levels of radiofrequency energy
(RF) in the microwave range while being used.
They also emit very low levels of RF when in the
stand-by mode. Whereas high levels of RF can pro-
duce health effects (by heating tissue), exposure to
low level RF that does not produce heating effects
causes no known adverse health effects. Many
studies of low level RF exposures have not found
any biological effects. Some studies have suggest-
ed that some biological effects may occur, but such
findings have not been con-firmed by additional
research. In some cases, other researchers have had
difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in deter-
mining the reasons for inconsistent results.
2. What is FDA’s role concerning the safety of
wireless phones?
Under the law, FDA does not review the safety
of radiation-emitting consumer products such
as wireless phones before they can be sold, as it
does with new drugs or medical devices. However,
the agency has authority to take action if wireless
phones are shown to emit radiofrequency energy
(RF) at a level that is hazardous to the user. In
such a case, FDA could require the manufacturers
of wireless phones to notify users of the health
hazard and to repair, replace or recall the phones
so that the hazard no longer exists. Although the
existing scientific data do not justify FDA regula-
tory actions, FDA has urged the wireless phone
industry to take a number of steps, including the
following:
• Support needed research into possible biologi-
cal effects of RF of the type emitted by wireless
phones;
• Design wireless phones in a way that minimizes
any RF exposure to the user that is not neces-
sary 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 coordi-
nated efforts at the federal 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
Administration
The National Institutes of Health participates in
some inter-agency 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 guide-
lines that limit RF exposure. FCC relies on FDA and
other health agencies for safety questions about
wireless phones. FCC also regulates the base sta-
tions 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 phones 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. These RF exposures are limited
by Federal Communications Commission safety
guidelines that were developed with the advice of
FDA and other federal health and safety agencies.
When the phone is located at greater distances
from the user, the exposure to RF is drastically
lower because a person’s RF exposure decreases
rapidly with increasing distance from the source.
The so-called “cordless phones,” which have a
base unit connected to the telephone wiring in a
house, typically operate at far lower power levels,
and thus produce RF exposures far below the FCC
safety limits.