Palm 700P User Manual
Page 238
I M P O R T A N T S A F E T Y A N D L E G A L I N F O R M A T I O N
232
the Federal Government. While the FCC does not have the expertise
to determine radiation exposure guidelines on its own, it does have
the expertise and authority to recognize and adopt technically sound
standards promulgated by other expert agencies and organizations,
and has done so. (Our joint efforts with the FDA in developing this
website is illustrative of the kind of inter-agency efforts and
consultation we engage in regarding this health and safety issue.)
Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the FCC
has certain responsibilities to consider whether its actions will
significantly affect the quality of the human environment. Therefore,
FCC approval and licensing of transmitters and facilities must be
evaluated for significant impact on the environment. Human
exposure to RF radiation emitted by FCC-regulated transmitters is
one of several factors that must be considered in such environmental
evaluations. In 1996, the FCC revised its guidelines for RF exposure
as a result of a multi-year proceeding and as required by the
Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Radio and television broadcast stations, satellite-earth stations,
experimental radio stations and certain wireless communication
facilities are required to undergo routine evaluation for RF compliance
when they submit an application to the FCC for construction or
modification of a transmitting facility or renewal of a license. Failure
to comply with the FCC's RF exposure guidelines could lead to the
preparation of a formal Environmental Assessment, possible
Environmental Impact Statement and eventual rejection of an
application. Technical guidelines for evaluating compliance with the
FCC.
RF safety requirements can be found in the FCC's OET Bulletin 65:
.
Low-powered, intermittent, or inaccessible RF transmitters and
facilities are normally excluded from the requirement for routine
evaluation for RF exposure. These exclusions are based on standard
calculations and measurement data indicating that a transmitting
station or equipment operating under the conditions prescribed is
unlikely to cause exposures in excess of the guidelines under normal
conditions of use. Such exclusions are not exclusions from
compliance, but, rather, exclusions from routine evaluation. The
FCC's policies on RF exposure and categorical exclusion can be found
in Section 1.1307(b) of the FCC's Rules and Regulations [(47 CFR
1.1307(b)].
How can I obtain the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value for
my wireless smartphone? The FCC requires that wireless
smartphones sold in the United States demonstrate compliance with
human exposure limits adopted by the FCC in 1996. The relative
amount of RF energy absorbed in the head of a wireless
telephone-user is given by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), as
explained above. The FCC requires wireless smartphones to comply
with a safety limit of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg) in terms of
SAR.
Information on SAR for a specific smartphone model can be obtained
for many recently manufactured smartphones using the FCC
identification (ID) number for that model. The FCC ID number is
usually printed somewhere on the case of the smartphone.
Sometimes it may be necessary to remove the battery pack to find
the number. Once you have the ID number, go to the following Web
address:. On this page, you will see
instructions for entering the FCC ID number. Type the FCC ID number
exactly as requested (the Grantee Code is the first three characters,
the Equipment Product Code is the rest of the FCC ID number). Then
click on “Start Search.” The “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,