Important Safety Information
Section 4A. Important Safety Information 215
Radio Frequency (RF) Energy
Understanding How Your Device Operates
Your device is basically a radio transmitter and receiver. When
it’s turned on, it receives and transmits radio frequency (RF)
signals. When you use your device, the system handling your
call controls the power level. This power can range from 0.006
watt to 0.2 watt in digital mode.
Knowing Radio Frequency Safety
The design of your device complies with updated NCRP
standards described below.
In 1991–92, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
joined in updating ANSI’s 1982 standard for safety levels with
respect to human exposure to RF signals. More than 120
scientists, engineers and physicians from universities,
government health agencies and industries developed this
updated standard after reviewing the available body of
research. In 1993, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) adopted this updated standard in a regulation. In August
1996, the FCC adopted hybrid standard consisting of the
existing ANSI/IEEE standard and the guidelines published by
the National Council of Radiation Protection and
Measurements (NCRP).
Body-Worn Operation
To maintain compliance with FCC RF exposure guidelines, if
you wear a handset on your body, use the Sprint supplied or
approved carrying case, holster or other body-worn accessory.
If you do not use a body-worn accessory, ensure the antenna is
at least 7/16 inch (1.5 centimeters) from your body when
transmitting. Use of non-Sprint-approved accessories may
violate FCC RF exposure guidelines.
For more information about RF exposure, visit the FCC Web
site at www.fcc.gov.
Specific Absorption Rates (SAR) for Wireless
Devices
The SAR value corresponds to the relative amount of RF
energy absorbed into the head of a user of a wireless handset.
The SAR value of a device is the result of an extensive testing,
measuring and calculation process. It does not represent how
much RF the device emits. All device models are tested at their
highest value in strict laboratory settings. But when in
operation, the SAR of a device can be substantially less than
the level reported to the FCC. This is because of a variety of
factors including its proximity to a base station antenna, device
design and other factors. What is important to remember is that
each device meets strict federal guidelines. Variations in SARs
do not represent a variation in safety.
Nerva.book Page 215 Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:59 PM