“Grant of Equipment Authorization” for your telephone should appear. Read through the grant for the section on “SAR Compliance,” “Certification of Compliance with FCC Rules for RF Exposure” or similar language. This section should contain the value(s) for typical or maximum SAR for your smartphone.
Smartphones and other products authorized since June 2, 2000, should have the maximum SAR levels noted directly on the “Grant of Equipment Authorization.” For smartphones and products authorized between about mid-1998 and June 2000, detailed information on SAR levels is typically found in the exhibits associated with the grant. Once a grant is accessed, the exhibits can be viewed by clicking on “View Exhibit.” Grants authorized prior to 1998 are not part of the electronic database but, rather, have been documented in the form of paper records.
The FCC database does not list smartphones by model number. However, consumers may find SAR information from other sources as well. Some wireless smartphone manufacturers make SAR information available on their own Web sites. In addition, some non-government websites provide SARs for specific models of wireless smartphones. However, the FCC has not reviewed these sites and makes no guarantees of their accuracy. Finally, smartphones certified by the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) are required to provide SAR information to consumers in the instructional materials that come with the smartphones.
Do hands-free kits for wireless smartphones reduce
risks from exposure to RF emissions? Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from wireless smartphones, there is no reason to believe that hands-free kits reduce risks. Hands-free kits can be used with wireless smartphones for convenience and comfort. These systems reduce the absorption of RF energy in the head because the smartphone, which is the source of the RF emissions, will not be placed against the head. On the other hand, if the smartphone is mounted against the waist or other part of the body during use, then that part of the body will absorb more RF energy. Wireless smartphones marketed in the U.S. are required to meet safety requirements regardless of whether they are used against the head or against the body. Either configuration should result in compliance with the safety limit.
Do wireless smartphone accessories that claim to shield the head from RF radiation work? Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from wireless smartphones, there is no reason to believe that accessories that claim to shield the head from those emissions reduce risks. Some products that claim to shield the user from RF absorption use special smartphone cases, while others involve nothing more than a metallic accessory attached to the smartphone. Studies have shown that these products generally do not work as advertised. Unlike “hand-free” kits, these so-called “shields” may interfere with proper operation of the smartphone. The smartphone may be forced to boost its power to compensate, leading to an increase in RF absorption. In February 2002, the Federal trade Commission (FTC) charged two companies that sold devices that claimed to protect wireless smartphone users from radiation with making false and unsubstantiated claims. According to FTC, these defendants lacked a reasonable basis to substantiate their claim.
What are wireless telephone base stations? Fixed antennas used for wireless telecommunications are referred to as cellular base stations, cell stations, PCS (“Personal Communications Service”) stations or telephone transmission towers. These base stations consist of antennas and electronic equipment. Because the antennas need to be high in the air, they are often located on towers, poles, water tanks, or rooftops. Typical heights for freestanding base station towers are 50- 200 feet.
Some base stations use antennas that look like poles, 10 to 15 feet in length, that are referred to as “omni-directional” antennas. These types of antennas are usually found in rural areas. In urban and suburban areas, wireless providers now more commonly use panel or sector antennas for their base stations. These antennas consist of rectangular panels, about 1 by 4 feet in dimension. The antennas are usually arranged in three groups of three antennas each. One antenna in each group is used to transmit signals to wireless smartphones, and the other two antennas in each group are used to receive signals from wireless smartphones.
At any base station site, the amount of RF energy produced depends on the number of radio channels (transmitters) per
