{"id":"HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919","number":"6919","name":"Anonymous Anonymous","organization":"","posted":"2026-10-28T04:00Z","received":"2026-10-20T04:00Z","body":"I submit this comment regarding electromagnetic fields, radiofrequency radiation, and wireless exposure. I am a\nperson with disabilities who experienced significant health problems that I associate with a wireless smart meter\ninstalled in my home. I ask HHS to consider my experience and barriers to obtaining an analog meter.\nThis is not simply a preference or convenience. My home has become inaccessible because I cannot obtain the\naccommodation I need. People with disabilities need a meaningful process to request alternatives when they believe\nwireless devices affect their health and ability to live at home.\nPERSONAL EXPERIENCE\nAfter a wireless smart meter was installed, I experienced migraines, insomnia, tinnitus, ear pain, heart palpitations,\nconfusion, agitation, and rouleaux formation. These symptoms led me to seek medical attention several times. After\nthe meter was removed, my symptoms resolved. The meter was later reinstalled.\nMy experience alone does not establish scientific causation, and I do not ask HHS to treat it as proof. I ask that it be\ndocumented and considered with similar reports. The change in my symptoms after removal is relevant to research\nand accommodation needs.\nMEDICAL REQUESTS AND ACCESS TO MY HOME\nSeveral doctors requested an accommodation because of my symptoms and their effects on my disability. Despite\nthose requests, I could not obtain a lasting accommodation from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or West\nPenn Power. The meter was reinstalled, leaving me without the alternative I need.\nWhat happens when medical documentation supports an accommodation but there is no effective way to obtain a\ndifferent meter? Accepting requests without meaningful review or relief leaves no practical solution.\nI have two small children and limited income. Moving to another state is not realistic: I would lose family support and\nleave medical specialists my family and I need, while facing financial and logistical hardship. I should not have to\nchoose between remaining in my home and seeking a disability-related accommodation. I need an analog electric\nmeter.\nREQUESTED ACTION\nI ask HHS to recommend a federal approach that gives people with disabilities a meaningful opportunity to obtain a\nnon-wireless alternative when they report health detriments associated with wireless smart meters. Please support:\n1. An accessible opt-out process for disability- or health-related reasons, where an analog or suitable\nnon-communicating meter is technically and reasonably available.\n2. Review of existing installations, including a process to request removal and replacement.\n3. Individualized consideration of medical documentation from treating doctors.\n4. Protection from unreasonable charges or penalties for seeking an accommodation, especially for people with\nlimited incomes.\n5. Protection of essential electric service from unreasonable delays or loss while a request is considered.\nAlthough HHS does not directly control every utility’s metering requirements, I ask it to work with the FCC, DOJ, and\nstate regulators to identify authorities and recommend disability-related accommodations.\nRESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH\nPlease include disability experiences in HHS’s evaluation of wireless exposure and research priorities. Examine\nreported symptoms, exposure conditions, and circumstances in which people report health changes. Priorities should\ninclude:\n• Reports from people living near or with wireless smart meters at home;\n• Smart-meter transmission characteristics and residential exposure conditions;\n• People with preexisting medical conditions or disabilities;\n• Accessible documentation of health experiences and exposure histories; and\n• Transparent evaluation of limitations and uncertainties in existing evidence.\nDistinguish established scientific conclusions from documented reports and questions requiring research. Lack of a\ndefinitive scientific conclusion should not prevent agencies from considering disability-related needs or whether an\naccommodation process is necessary.\nCONCLUSION\nI ask HHS to consider my experience: serious symptoms after installation, resolution after removal, and reinstallation\ndespite medical requests. My home has become inaccessible, and relocating would jeopardize family support,\nmedical care, and financial stability.\nPlease take these experiences seriously and recommend a meaningful process for people with disabilities to obtain a\nnon-wireless alternative without unreasonable barriers.\nThank you for considering my comment.\nRespectfully,\nJessica Janosek\nOctober 20, 2026","attachments":["https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_16.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_9.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_3.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_15.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_10.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_4.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_12.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_6.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_1.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_14.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_7.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_11.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_5.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_13.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_8.pdf","https://downloads.regulations.gov/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919/attachment_2.pdf"],"attachment_inventory":true,"withheld":false,"source":"https://www.regulations.gov/comment/HHS-OASH-2026-0397-6919","tags":["child-development","health-experiences","sleep-cognition","exposure-places","policy-standards","research-evidence"],"source_hash":"51b2a4f8e355fbd216c4f5a47892f36691065f7b24565715178d82c4184a7c03","slug":"child-development-comment-6919","classification":null,"forum_topics":["awaiting-review"],"primary_topic":"awaiting-review","forum_title":"I submit this comment regarding electromagnetic fields, radiofrequency radiation, and wireless exposure. …"}