What has the FCC done to protect against the possibly harmful effects of radiofrequency (RF) emission from a television transmission?
In 1996, pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC revised its methods of evaluating the environmental effects of RF emissions on human health. These revised guidelines are the result of review by all of the federal agencies that are expert in the effects of radiofrequency radiation on human health, including FDA, EPA, OSHA and NIOSH. These guidelines apply to all FCC-regulated transmission facilities, including new digital broadcast television stations. In evaluating applications for DTV tower construction permits (as well as permits for other broadcast facilities), the FCC reviews the results of the applicants’ technical analysis of how their facilities would meet the Commission’s new requirements, designed to protect the public from exposure to harmful levels of RF energy. This analysis includes the cumulative effects of the new DTV facility in addition to all preexisting emitters. As a practical matter, broadcast towers are usually, although not always, constructed fa
