Safety Risks from Cell Phones Needs Review [Health Matters]

The CTIA, an organization representing the wireless communications industry, stated in a news release, “CTIA welcomes the Federal Communications Commission´s (FCC´s) continued careful oversight of this issue,” in its response to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on cell phone safety. The GAO recommended the FCC to reassess and, if appropriate, change its current RF exposure safety rules. It also mentioned that the FCC is working on a draft document that has the potential to address the GAO´s recommendations. The GAO report was issued following a year-long investigation into the adequacy of the FCC´s rules that was requested by several members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has oversight authority over the FCC and the telecommunications industry. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) applauded the three members of U.S. Congress for prompting the GAO investigation. It commended the GAO for the report demonstrating “the need for the FCC to review its cell phone safety standards” and expects the “FCC will use the GAO´s findings to update its safety standards for wireless devices.”