Calls for revised limits, clearer consumer disclosures, fee-free meter opt-outs, wired school options, lo…

I am commenting as an individual consumer and parent. My comment relies on peer-reviewed research, government reports, and a federal court decision, each cited below. The safety limits are almost 30 years old. The FCC set its wireless radiation limits back in 1996 and hasn’t updated them since. In 1996, about 44 million Americans had cell phones. Now nearly everyone does, and most of us also have Wi-Fi, smartwatches, tablets, and smart meters running all day [1]. In 2021, a federal appeals court ruled that the FCC acted “arbitrary and capricious” when it kept those old limits. The court found the FCC never gave a real answer to evidence of non-cancer health effects below the limits, especially for kids, and didn’t address long-term exposure or the environment [2][3]. There’s real science here (Q12) In 2011, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency (IARC) classified radiofrequency fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” based on an increased risk of glioma, a malignant brain cancer, linked to wireless phone use [4]. In a study nominated by the FDA, the government’s own National Toxicology Program exposed rats to cell phone radiation. Male rats developed malignant heart tumors, and both male and female rats showed heart tissue damage. The lowest exposure level matched the highest amount allowed today for local tissue exposure from phones. The NTP said the tumors resembled ones reported in some studies of frequent cell phone users [5]. NTP also pointed out that 4G and 5G use different frequencies and signal types than the ones it tested. So the networks we’re all using right now haven’t been studied this way [5]. Kids deserve extra care (Q11) Children’s bodies and brains are still developing, and they’ll be exposed for a lifetime. The American Academy of Pediatrics has asked for limits that account for children and pregnant women [3]. The court specifically faulted the FCC for not explaining why it brushed off evidence about children [3]. What I’m asking HHS to do I’m not asking for the government to control what devices I buy. I’m asking for honest information and the freedom to choose. Tell the FCC plainly that the 1996 limits aren’t backed by current health science. Then have HHS, not the wireless industry, lead the health review the court ordered. Give us the facts. Radiation levels (SAR) and the minimum distance from your body should be on the box and at the store, not hidden in phone menus. Let people opt out. Families should be able to decline smart meters without penalty fees and ask for wired internet options for their kids at school. Neighbors should get a heads-up before antennas go up near homes and schools. Give communities a say again. Right now, local towns can’t consider health concerns when deciding where towers go. HHS should support restoring that local voice. Fund independent research. NIH should follow up on the NTP findings using 4G and 5G signals, with scientists who aren’t funded by the wireless industry. Share simple tips. Use speakerphone, keep your phone off your body, and use a wired connection when you can. HHS should share this as voluntary guidance, stated clearly. Until independent research shows this is safe for kids and lifelong use, the burden of proof should be on the technology, not on families. Thank you for asking the public about this. [1] Washington Spectator, “FCC & Electromagnetic Radiation” (2022): https://washingtonspectator.org/fcc-electromagnetic-radiation/ [2] Environmental Health Trust v. FCC (D.C. Cir. 2021), summary by Davis Wright Tremaine: https://www.dwt.com/blogs/broadband-advisor/2021/08/fcc-radiofrequency-limits-dc-circuit [3] Law Street Media, D.C. Circuit remand summary: https://lawstreetmedia.com/?p=12895 [4] IARC Press Release No. 208 (2011): https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr208_E.pdf [5] NIH news release on NTP findings (2018): https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/high-exposure-radiofrequency-radiation-linked-tumor-activity-male-rats