[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 1, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18131-18151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02745]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 1, 2, 15, 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 73, 90, 95, 97, and 101

[ET Docket Nos. 03-137 and 13-84, FCC 19-126; FRS 16453]


Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields and 
Reassessment of FCC Radiofrequency Exposure Limits and Policies

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) amends its rules related to the two methods that may be 
used for determining and achieving compliance with the Commission's 
existing limits on human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) 
electromagnetic fields: Exemption--consideration of whether a 
particular device or deployment is so clearly compliant, based on 
criteria in the Commission's rules, that it qualifies as exempt from 
the requirement to undertake a more thorough RF exposure analysis--and 
evaluation--a more specific examination of an individual

[[Page 18132]]

site or device, which considers factors beyond those utilized for 
exemption and may be performed with a variety of computational and/or 
measurement methodologies. It also amends the rules related to an 
increasingly important part of demonstrating and maintaining RF 
exposure compliance: mitigation--the restriction from or limitation of 
RF exposure in controlled areas to keep RF exposure within the 
Commission's established limits by, for example, using signs or 
barriers. The amended rules are intended to provide more efficient, 
practical, and consistent RF exposure evaluation procedures and 
mitigation measures to help ensure compliance with the existing RF 
exposure limits. The amended rules replace the various inconsistent 
service-specific criteria for exempting parties from performing an 
evaluation to demonstrate compliance with the RF exposure limits with 
new, streamlined criteria. The amended rules also allow the use of any 
valid computational method to determine potential RF exposure levels, 
remove the minimum evaluation distance requirement for frequencies 
above 6 GHz, and establish post-evaluation RF exposure mitigation 
procedures (e.g., signage), to help ensure that persons are not exposed 
to RF emissions in excess of the existing limits. The Commission also 
affirms its prior decision to classify the pinna (outer ear) as an 
extremity in RF exposure compliance testing, finds no appropriate basis 
for and thus declines to propose amendments to existing RF exposure 
limits at this time, and terminates the inquiry in which it sought 
comment on the Commission's existing guidelines for limiting RF 
exposure to humans.

DATES: Effective June 1, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Doczkat, email: 
[email protected]; the Commission's RF Safety Program, 
[email protected]; or call the Office of Engineering and Technology at 
(202) 418-2470.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Second 
Report and Order, Memorandum Opinion and Order, and Termination of 
Notice of Inquiry, ET Docket No. 03-137, ET Docket No. 13-84, FCC 19-
126, adopted November 27, 2019 and released December 4, 2019. The full 
text of this document is available for public inspection and copying 
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room CY-
A257), 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, or by downloading the 
text from the Commission's website at https://www.fcc.gov/edocs/daily-digest/2019/12/05. Alternative formats are available for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format) by 
sending an email to [email protected] or calling the Commission's Consumer 
and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-
0432 (TTY).

Synopsis

I. Introduction

    1. On March 27, 2013, the Commission adopted a First Report and 
Order (First RF Report and Order), Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (2013 RF Further Notice), and Notice of Inquiry (2013 RF 
Inquiry) in this proceeding, 78 FR 33654, June 4, 2013. In the 2019 
Second Report and Order, the Commission simplified the regulatory 
framework for determining compliance with the Commission's existing RF 
exposure limits by providing more efficient, practical, and consistent 
RF exposure exemption criteria, evaluation procedures, and mitigation 
measures to help ensure compliance with the RF exposure limits. In the 
2019 Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission affirmed its decision 
in the First RF Report and Order to classify in its rules the pinna 
(outer ear) as an extremity for RF exposure compliance testing. In the 
2019 Termination of Notice of Inquiry, the Commission terminated the 
2013 RF Inquiry that sought comment on the efficacy and propriety of 
the Commission's existing guidelines and policies for limiting RF 
exposure to humans, finding no appropriate basis for and thus declining 
to propose amendments to existing limits at this time. The following 
are the major actions that the Commission took in the 2019 Second 
Report and Order to simplify the Commission's RF exposure evaluation 
procedures and mitigation measures and apply them consistently:
     Created three broad categories for exemption from the RF 
exposure evaluation requirements for all fixed, mobile, and portable RF 
sources, based on power, separation distance (minimum distance in any 
direction from any part of a radiating structure to any part of the 
human body), and frequency, that provide for both single- and multiple-
transmitter cases and treat like sources similarly regardless of the 
underlying service; adopted the term ``exemption'' to replace 
``exclusion'' for this topic.
     Added to Sec.  1.1307(b) of the Commission's rules a set 
of technical definitions related to output power, separation distance, 
RF exposure scenarios and sources, and categories for specifying RF 
safety program actions that reflect potential RF exposure scenarios.
     Replaced restrictive and outdated provisions that 
specified only a single acceptable numerical approach to RF exposure 
evaluation, with provisions allowing the use of any valid computational 
method to determine RF exposure levels; allowed parties to make ad hoc 
requests for use of other RF exposure evaluation methods whose 
reliability and validity can be substantiated.
     Removed from Sec.  2.1093(d) of the Commission's rules the 
5-cm minimum separation specification for measurements and calculations 
used to demonstrate RF exposure compliance for devices that operate 
above 6 GHz.
     Established more specific post-evaluation RF exposure 
mitigation measures that include access control, signage, and training 
requirements for transmitter sites where RF exposure limits may be 
exceeded to help ensure that persons are not exposed to RF emissions 
that exceed the Commission's established RF exposure limits.

II. Discussion

Second Report and Order

    2. In the 2019 Second Report and Order, the Commission amended 
parts 1, 2, 15, 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 73, 90, 95, 97, and 101 of its 
rules to simplify the procedures for determining compliance with the 
Commission's existing RF exposure limits to help ensure consistent 
compliance with those limits. These actions are described in greater 
detail below.
A. Exemptions From the RF Exposure Evaluation Requirement
    3. As proposed in the 2013 RF Further Notice and supported in the 
record, the Commission revised the various service-specific criteria 
for exemption (formerly termed exclusion) from performing an RF 
exposure evaluation, to set forth a single, generally-applicable set of 
formulas based on power, separation distance, and frequency of fixed, 
mobile, and portable transmitters that are applicable to both single 
and multiple sources of RF emissions, and adopted a set of technical 
definitions related to output power and separation distance. The 
Commission adopted three broad classes of RF exemptions: (1) For 
extremely low-power devices that transmit at no more than 1 mW; (2) for 
somewhat higher-power devices with transmitting antennas that normally 
operate within 0.5 cm to 40 cm of the human body in the frequency range 
between 300 MHz and 6 GHz, a formula based primarily on the

[[Page 18133]]

localized specific absorption rate (SAR) limits; and (3) for all other 
transmitters, based on a set of formulas for maximum permissible 
exposure (MPE) limits. The new exemption criteria apply to all of the 
Commission's rules authorizing RF sources. Under the new rules, every 
applicant for equipment authorization and every licensee prior to 
deployment or commencement of operations may determine whether the 
device or transmitter falls under one of the classes of exemptions. If 
the device or transmitter falls under one of these classes of 
exemption, no additional action is necessary. If not, the applicant or 
licensee will have to perform a routine evaluation to determine 
compliance with the existing RF exposure limits. The Commission 
reasoned that this new process would not impose any significant burdens 
on impacted parties since the underlying exposure rules and parties' 
obligations under the rules remain the same; the new rules only modify 
the process used to demonstrate compliance.
    4. In response to comments that the rule changes are unnecessary 
and will be burdensome and some parties may lose their service-based 
exemptions, the Commission noted that unlike in the past, fixed RF 
communications equipment is now located on rooftops that are accessible 
to the public and on other structures near ground level that are not 
spatially removed from publicly accessible areas at similar heights. To 
achieve consistently reliable compliance with the existing RF exposure 
limits, the Commission decided that these sorts of installations 
warrant an affirmative determination of compliance with the RF exposure 
requirements.
    1. Exemption Criteria--Single RF Source.
    5. A single RF source will be exempt from RF exposure evaluation 
under any one of three circumstances: (1) The RF source transmits at no 
more than 1 mW time-averaged available (matched conducted) power; (2) 
the RF source is normally separated between 0.5 and 40 cm from the 
human body, in the frequency range between 300 MHz and 6 GHz, and 
transmits at no more than the average power threshold result from the 
formula the Commission adopted based on the localized SAR limits; or, 
(3) for all other fixed, mobile, and portable transmitters, the RF 
source transmits at no more than the average power threshold result 
from the set of formulas the Commission adopted based on the MPE limits 
at separation distances from any part of the radiating structure of at 
least [lambda]/2[pi] (RF signal free-space wavelength divided by 2[pi]) 
in all service categories.
    6. 1-mW Blanket Exemption. For extremely low-power fixed, mobile, 
and portable RF sources, the Commission adopted a blanket RF exposure 
evaluation exemption for a single transmitter operating with up to 1 mW 
of time-averaged available (matched conducted) power, irrespective of 
the separation distance from the human body. The 1-mW exemption is 
independent of service type and covers the full frequency range from 
100 kHz to 100 GHz, but it may not be used in conjunction with other 
exemption criteria, or in devices with higher-power transmitters 
operating in the same time-averaging period. The 1-mW blanket exemption 
applies for any separation distance, including distances of less than 
0.5 cm and where there is no separation, e.g., medical implant devices.
    7. SAR-Based Exemption. For fixed, mobile, and portable RF sources 
near a human body, where the separation distance is normally between 
0.5 and 40 cm and may be less than [lambda]/2[pi], the Commission 
adopted the new RF exposure evaluation exemption formula shown here for 
time-averaged power thresholds (specified in mW) for exemption of 
single portable, mobile, and fixed RF sources at 0.3-6 GHz. A source is 
exempt if each of the maximum time-averaged available (matched 
conducted) power and effective radiated power (ERP) is no more than:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01AP20.001

    8. The formula provides, as a function of separation distance and 
frequency, a threshold power below which a single RF source is exempt 
from further RF exposure evaluation. It applies to fixed, mobile, and 
portable RF sources in any service at a separation distance between 0.5 
cm and 40 cm from the body, and is applicable in the frequency range 
from 300 MHz through 6 GHz. The SAR-based thresholds are derived based 
on the frequency, power, and separation

[[Page 18134]]

distance of the RF source. The formula defines the thresholds in 
general for either available maximum time-averaged power or maximum 
time-averaged ERP, whichever is greater.
    9. If the ERP of a device is not easily determined, such as for a 
portable device with a small form factor, available maximum time-
averaged power (i.e., maximum power delivered into a matched antenna, 
considering line loss or any other loss that diminishes the power 
delivered to an antenna) may be used exclusively if the device antenna 
or radiating structure does not exceed an electrical length of 
[lambda]/4. A coherent phased array of antenna elements is to be 
treated as a single antenna or RF source with separation distance 
determined from the nearest antenna element.
    10. For devices with antennas of length greater than [lambda]/4 
where the gain is not well-defined but always less than that of a half-
wave dipole, the available maximum time-averaged power generated by the 
device may be used in place of the maximum time-averaged ERP, in 
situations where that ERP value is not known. This would apply, for 
instance, to ``leaky'' coaxial distribution systems, RF heating 
equipment, and other typically unintentionally radiating or Industrial, 
Scientific and Medical (ISM) devices. The SAR-based exemption 
threshold, Pth, is defined in terms of maximum time-averaged 
power and in accordance with the source-based time-averaging 
requirements described in Sec.  2.1093(d)(5) of the rules. Time-
averaged power measurements are necessary to determine if the maximum 
output of a transmitting antenna (ERP) or matched conducted transmitter 
power is above the proposed threshold for exemption from routine SAR 
evaluation. The Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) 
will publish in its Knowledge Database (KDB) the power measurement and 
SAR test procedures necessary to demonstrate compliance with the RF 
exposure limits.
    11. While commenters supported the basic idea of a uniform formula 
for an SAR exemption, several commenters disagreed with the proposed 
formula, contending it was overly conservative and inconsistent with 
the operation of current devices. Instead, parties supported use of the 
International Electrotechnical Commission's (IEC's) standard IEC 62479 
(2010), which provides alternative recommendations for exemption of 
low-power devices based on SAR. For several reasons, the Commission was 
not persuaded that the IEC standard was appropriate. Even though the 
IEC's standard uses dipoles and flat phantoms as a starting point for 
modeling, and is applicable to the same frequency range as the SAR 
exemption formula (300 MHz-6 GHz), the Commission determined that the 
IEC standard departs significantly regarding the applicable range of 
separation distances and use of bandwidth, with an increased complexity 
in the resulting formulas. In addition, the IEC model does not directly 
incorporate antenna directivity and states that it may not apply to 
devices with highly directive antennas. To maintain simplicity, the 
Commission limited the exemptions to those based solely on the 
relationship of power (both available or matched power and ERP), 
separation distance, and frequency, without other inputs--such as 
antenna pattern or bandwidth--that would effectively render an 
exemption determination as complex as an evaluation. It concluded that 
additional complexity in the exemptions from additional inputs would 
result in regulations that were of little or no practical utility as a 
simple exemption protocol; additional factors could be considered as 
needed or appropriate in a more thorough evaluation to demonstrate 
compliance. The Commission also declined to extend the SAR-based 
exemption formula from 0.5 cm to 0 cm because there is no modeling data 
that validates such an extension.
    12. MPE-Based Exemption. To support an exemption from further 
evaluation for frequencies from 300 kHz through 100 GHz, the Commission 
also adopted general frequency and separation-distance dependent MPE-
based ERP thresholds as shown below in Table 2. The values in Table 2 
apply to any single RF source (i.e., fixed, mobile, and portable 
transmitters) and specify power and separation distance criteria for 
each of the five frequency ranges used for the MPE limits.

 Table 2--Single RF Sources Subject to Routine Environmental Evaluation
                       Under MPE-Based Exemptions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Transmitter frequency (MHz)             Threshold ERP (watts)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.3-1.34.............................  1,920 R2
1.34-30..............................  3,450 R2/f2
30-300...............................  3.83 R2
300-1,500............................  0.0128 R2f
1,500-100,000........................  19.2 R2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: R is in meters and f is in MHz.

    13. An RF source with ERP equal to or less than the Threshold ERP 
specified in Table 2 for the source frequency would be considered 
exempt from evaluation. In cases where ERP is not well defined, the 
available maximum time-averaged power may be used if the device 
antenna(s) or radiating structure(s) does not exceed an electrical 
length of [lambda]/4. The separation distance R is the smallest 
distance from any part of the antenna or radiating structure to all 
persons, including those occupationally exposed, during operation at 
the applicable ERP. In the case of mobile or portable devices, the 
separation distance R is from the outer housing of the device where it 
is closest to the antenna. At sites with multiple fixed transmitters, 
or multiple mobile or portable transmitters within the same device, the 
formulas would be applied in conjunction with the summations discussed 
in the section below on RF Exposure Evaluation Exemption Criteria--
Multiple RF Sources.
    14. The criteria shown in Table 2 apply at separation distances 
from any part of the radiating structure of at least [lambda]/2[pi]; if 
R is less than [lambda]/2[pi] and other exemptions do not apply, 
evaluation is required. Since [lambda]/2[pi] is greater than 20 cm at 
frequencies below 239 MHz, these exemption criteria do not apply to 
portable devices that are operated both at less than 20 cm from the 
human body and at frequencies below 239 MHz. In general, less 
restrictive SAR-based exemption criteria may be used in accordance with 
the formulas specified in Table 2, but these SAR-based exemptions are 
not valid below 300 MHz. Thus, there are no exemption criteria below 
239 MHz for portable devices (or for any antenna at less than 20 cm), 
other than the 1 mW blanket exemption.
    15. The Commission declined to adopt commenters' suggestions to 
adjust the formulas to more readily exempt transmitters mounted on 
dedicated, access-controlled wireless support structures in the 
frequency range 300 MHz to 3 GHz because simply being building-mounted 
does not preclude persons from having access to the area near an 
antenna, particularly when mounted low to the ground or in other 
accessible locations. The actual distance from potential human presence 
should be taken into consideration. The Commission rejected a 
commenter's proposal to relax the standard for transmitters located on 
structures where access can be more readily controlled since spaces 
adjacent to such a structure may be readily accessible, rendering the 
transmitter appropriate for an evaluation. It also rejected a 
commenter's proposal to add a modified exemption formula that would 
apply between 400 MHz and 3 GHz because it found that the formula was 
based on

[[Page 18135]]

inappropriate assumptions and could not ensure compliance with the 
Commission's RF exposure limits.
    16. 1-mW Exemption. For multiple sources inside a single device, 
each of which is capable of no more than 1-mW, the Commission adopted a 
minimum 2-cm separation distance between antennas that operate in the 
same time-averaging period, as proposed in the 2013 RF Further Notice. 
In other words, if there are two or more RF sources inside a single 
device operating at the same time and the nearest parts of the antenna 
structures are separated by less than 2 cm, the 1-mW exemption will not 
apply. However, if the sum of multiple sources is less than 1 mW during 
the time-averaging period, they may be treated as a single source 
(separation is not required), and exempted accordingly. As with the 
exemption for a single RF source, this exemption cannot be used in 
conjunction with other exemption criteria, and medical implant devices 
may use only this 1-mW exemption.
    17. Use of Summation Formulas. In situations where RF exposure is 
generated from multiple sources at the same time, all such sources are 
considered in aggregate to determine compliance with the exposure 
limits. The Commission decided that the SAR- and MPE-based exemptions 
from RF exposure evaluation may be used along with known existing 
exposure levels to exempt multiple RF sources. This is accomplished by 
normalizing each source power level to each matching exemption 
threshold power and determining whether the total of all the normalized 
powers is no more than 1. (Normalization here means dividing an RF 
source power level by the corresponding exemption threshold power.) In 
addition, if pre-existing exposure levels are known, they may also be 
normalized to the exposure limits to determine the remaining margin 
available for exemption of additional sources to demonstrate compliance 
with the limit. These concepts are applied to the antennas of multiple 
transmitters in a single device and to multiple fixed transmitters, as 
explained below.
    18. Multiple RF Sources with Fixed Physical Relationship. To 
address the potential exposure from multiple simultaneously operating 
RF sources with a fixed physical relationship, the Commission adopted 
the summation formula shown below for all RF sources, regardless of 
whether portable, mobile, or fixed, rather than its proposals in the 
2013 RF Further Notice, which provided different formulas for portable, 
mobile, and fixed transmitters. For sites or devices with multiple 
transmitters, the summation formula shown below will determine whether 
multiple transmitters using the single transmitter formulas are 
collectively exempt from evaluation. This formula includes three 
summation terms, the first two of which are summations for the 
exemptions, the third is to account for exposure from existing 
evaluations, which is described in more detail below.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01AP20.002


Where:
a equals the number of fixed, mobile, or portable RF sources 
claiming exemption using the Table 1 formula for Pth, including 
existing exempt transmitters and those being added.
b equals the number of fixed, mobile, or portable RF sources 
claiming exemption using the applicable Table 2 formula for 
Threshold ERP, including existing exempt transmitters and those 
being added.
c equals the number of existing fixed, mobile, or portable RF 
sources with known evaluation for the specified minimum distance.
Pi equals the available maximum time-averaged power or the ERP, 
whichever is greater, for a fixed, mobile, or portable RF source i 
at a distance between 0.5 cm and 40 cm (inclusive).
Pth,i equals the exemption threshold power (Pth) according to the 
Table 1 formula for a fixed, mobile, or portable RF source i.
ERPj equals the available maximum time-averaged power or the ERP, 
whichever is greater, of a fixed, mobile, or portable RF source j.
ERPth,j equals the exemption threshold ERP for a fixed, mobile, or 
portable RF source j, at a distance of at least [lambda]/2[pi], 
according to the applicable Table 2 formula at the location in 
question.
Evaluatedk equals the maximum reported SAR or MPE of fixed, mobile, 
or portable RF source k either in the device or at the transmitter 
site from an existing evaluation.
Exposure Limitk equals either the general population/uncontrolled 
maximum permissible exposure (MPE) limit or specific absorption rate 
(SAR) limit for each fixed, mobile, or portable source, as 
applicable.

    19. The normalized contributions to the total exemption threshold 
can be determined by calculating for each RF source, whether mobile, 
portable, or fixed, the ratio of the maximum time-averaged power 
(matched conducted power or ERP, as appropriate) for the transmitter, 
comparing it to the appropriate frequency- and distance-dependent 
threshold, using the formula above for either time-averaged power 
thresholds (mW) for exemption of single portable, mobile and fixed RF 
sources, or Table 2, and summing those ratios. If the ratios for all 
transmitters in a device operating in the same time-averaging period 
are included in the total sum and this sum is no more than 1 (i.e., 100 
percent), the cumulative contributions do not exceed the permissible 
limit and a location at a site or the device (i.e., all transmitters 
within the device) are exempt from routine evaluation. The basic 
exemption criteria are contained in the P and ERP summation terms, 
while the Evaluated/Exposure Limit sum accounts for the preexisting 
exposure levels and correspondingly reduces the allowable margin 
remaining for exemption at the location of interest (e.g., 20 cm for 
mobile RF sources). All transmitters must be considered, and all 
transmitters that can operate at the same time must be included in the 
summation of multiple transmitters. If a transmitter is subsequently 
proposed to be added under the Commission's permissive change 
authorization procedures for portable or mobile devices, a new 
calculation must be made including the additional transmitter.
    20. In response to a commenter's suggestion that the Commission 
incorporate further technical definitions in its rules for terms used 
in the summation formula beyond those proposed in the 2013 RF Further 
Notice, the Commission added definitions of ``available maximum time-
averaged power,'' ``effective radiated power (ERP),'' and ``time-
averaging period'' to its rules. However, because the Commission's 
exemptions do not rely on delivered power but available power, it 
declined to adopt a definition for ``delivered maximum time-averaged 
power.'' The Commission clarified that the delivered maximum time-
averaged power would be the largest net power delivered or supplied to 
an antenna, as averaged over a time period not to

[[Page 18136]]

exceed 30 minutes for fixed sources, or as averaged over a time period 
inherent from the device transmission characteristics for mobile and 
portable sources (also not to exceed 30 minutes).
    21. To account for simultaneous transmissions while allowing for 
short time-averaging periods for non-overlapping transmissions, the 
Commission included short time-averaging periods for non-overlapping 
transmissions in its rules. It also clarified that multiple source 
summations require time averaging over an averaging period during which 
the maximum power is being transmitted, provided that summations (or 
measurements) performed using a shorter time-averaging period 
correspond to the maximum aggregate time-averaged SAR or power density 
of the multiple transmitters being summed (i.e., accounting for maximum 
duty cycle, maximum transmitted power, overlapping transmission, etc.). 
Also, short time-averaging periods (e.g., over one pulse at maximum 
power) may be selected to conservatively determine power and avoid the 
need to sum powers from multiple transmitters when transmissions from 
the different transmitters do not overlap in time. The values for Pi, 
ERPj, and Evaluatedk, where applicable, are determined according to the 
source-based time averaging requirements of Sec. Sec.  2.1093(d)(5) and 
2.1091(d)(2) of the rules, and the sum of those values conservatively 
represents the total calculated exposure. The summation formula may be 
used even if some of the three terms do not apply (i.e., where those 
terms would be zero). To the extent that overlapping transmissions may 
vary among individual products and host configurations, the Commission 
noted that applicants may want to consult device-specific procedures 
developed by the FCC Laboratory addressing the details of how to 
conduct evaluations and determine compliance with the RF exposure 
limits.
    22. RF Sources without Fixed Physical Relationships. As proposed in 
the 2013 RF Further Notice, the Commission decided not to require 
applicants to account for multiple RF sources that have no fixed 
positional relationship between or among each other when determining 
the availability of an exemption, as is typically the case between a 
mobile and a broadcast antenna or other fixed source, or between two 
mobile sources. There is no practical method to quantitatively 
establish exemption for multiple RF sources where there is no definite 
positional relationship between sources, such as between multiple 
mobile/portable devices or between such devices and fixed transmitters, 
and none were recommended by commenters.
    23. Although commenters raised concerns about the impact of 
cumulative RF exposure, the Commission found that consideration of the 
typical spatial separation between RF sources diminishes the practical 
relevance of multiple spatially uncorrelated transmitters. Since 
exposure from fixed RF sources diminishes rapidly with distance and 
signal losses due to non-line-of-sight conditions, the Commission 
expects that exposure from portable or mobile devices near a person's 
body would generally be overwhelmingly more significant. The exposure 
from each portable or mobile device near a person will generally be 
highly localized and involve low total power absorption. The Commission 
expects that the locations of maximum SAR in the body from these 
portable and mobile RF sources are highly unlikely to overlap, and also 
that total power absorption will not result in significant contribution 
to whole-body average SAR. Thus, for multiple exempt RF sources without 
an inherent spatial relationship, regardless of their classification as 
fixed, mobile, or portable, the Commission concluded that it is very 
highly unlikely the localized or whole-body SAR limits would be 
exceeded. The Commission concluded that the summation of potential 
exposure due to spatially uncorrelated sources should not be routinely 
required and is consistent with all known compliance activities to 
date.
B. Environmental Evaluation
    24. Where an exemption cannot be invoked, a routine environmental 
evaluation--described in the Commission's rules as a ``determination of 
compliance''--must be performed for fixed transmission sites where the 
exemptions are not met to ensure that the RF exposure limits are not 
exceeded in places that are accessible to humans. In most cases, such 
an evaluation is simple and generic and does not require a 
determination of the precise exposure level, only that it can be 
determined from available information that it must be less than the 
Commission's limits. In other cases, the evaluation may require more 
precision regarding transmitter power and antenna distance from human-
accessible spaces and, potentially, may be the basis for determining 
necessary measures to deter humans from entering otherwise accessible 
locations (i.e., mitigation).
    25. As proposed in the 2013 RF Further Notice and supported in the 
record, the Commission removed provisions from its rules that specified 
only one acceptable numerical approach to RF exposure evaluation and 
instead allowed any valid computational method to be used. The 
Commission replaced the restrictive rules with guidance documents, such 
as in OET Bulletins and the KDB, which describe acceptable methods for 
certain applications. Plus, the Commission decided that parties can 
make ad hoc requests for use of other methods whose reliability and 
validity they can substantiate to the satisfaction of Commission staff. 
Also as proposed, the Commission eliminated a minimum measurement 
distance of 5 cm for devices operating above 6 GHz, since that 
requirement appears to have been rendered obsolete by technological 
developments and is no longer necessary.
    26. Consistency of Usage of Any Valid Method for SAR Computation. 
As proposed in the 2013 RF Further Notice and supported in the record, 
the Commission modified the language in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b)(2)(iv) and 
95.1221 of the rules by removing references to the finite difference 
time domain (FDTD) method for SAR computation and allowed any valid 
computational method supported by adequate documentation and consistent 
results to be used. In response to commenters' suggestion for increased 
reliance on field measurements for fixed sites rather than computation 
because of concerns that SAR computation would underestimate exposure, 
the Commission noted that computational methods for transmitter 
facilities tend to be more restrictive than measurements since they use 
maximum power and other conservative assumptions. Since such methods 
provide a simpler, less burdensome means of demonstrating compliance, 
the Commission decided that computational methods will be permitted 
where they can be successfully invoked. In response to a commenter's 
suggestion that software developers be given guidance about the 
requirements for valid computational software, the Commission directed 
the Commission's OET to provide guidance on acceptable methods of 
computation via the KDB.
    27. Removal from Rules of Minimum Evaluation Distance Requirement 
for Frequencies Above 6 GHz. To better simulate RF exposure in typical 
situations, the Commission also eliminated from Sec.  2.1093(d) of its 
rules a minimum measurement distance of 5 cm for measurements and 
calculations used to demonstrate RF exposure compliance for devices 
operating above

[[Page 18137]]

6 GHz. The Commission emphasized that applicants must provide specific 
justification for measurement distances used in compliance testing, 
describing the normal and feasible use(s) of the device. Equipment 
certification review will specifically include evaluation of the 
propriety of this specification, including any measures that may be 
taken to ensure that it is maintained.
    28. Technical Evaluation References in Rules. As proposed in the 
2013 RF Further Notice, the Commission removed the reference to IEEE 
Standard C95.3-1991 from Sec.  24.51(c) of its rules as a possible SAR 
evaluation reference, instead relying on publications in the KDB for 
providing guidance on technical evaluation procedures and standards. 
The Commission also determined that the FCC Laboratory's current 
process of issuing draft versions of KDB guidance documents, engaging 
manufacturers and other affected entities early in the revision 
process, and providing flexibility and harmony with existing standards 
effectively address the commenters' concerns about the process and 
transparency of developing KDB documents. Regarding OET Bulletins 56 
and 65, the Commission decided to eliminate Bulletin 56 in deference to 
more current material on the same subject on the Commission's website, 
and that Commission staff will maintain and update OET Bulletin 65 as a 
standalone document available for download.
C. Mitigation Measures To Ensure Compliance With Exposure Limits
    29. Transient Exposure. In the 2019 Second Report and Order, the 
Commission adopted its proposal to define transient exposure as the 
brief RF exposure in a controlled environment that does not exceed the 
general population limit, which may be averaged over a time interval up 
to 30 minutes (shorter averaging times are generally more conservative 
and may be used for convenience during evaluation). The rules the 
Commission adopted require, for controlled areas where the general 
population limit is exceeded, access controls and appropriate signage 
in addition to supervision of transient individuals by trained 
occupational specialists. The Commission found no basis for permitting 
exposure of any untrained individuals--regardless of whether they are 
workers--greater than the general population exposure limit. The 
applicability of occupational limits requires that a person be fully 
aware (e.g., training has been provided, warning signs detailing the 
nature of the hazard have been posted) and able to exercise control 
over his or her work-related exposure.
    30. Thus, the occupational exposure limits apply only if a person 
has been trained and has sufficient information to be fully aware of 
nearby RF sources and the necessity and means of avoiding overexposure. 
To satisfy the requirement to present written or verbal information to 
untrained transient individuals within controlled environments, the 
Commission affirmed that written information may include signs, maps, 
or diagrams showing where exposure limits are exceeded, and verbal 
information may include prerecorded messages.
    31. The Commission declined to adopt its proposal that transient 
exposure should not exceed the continuous occupational limit, listed in 
Sec.  1.1310, at any time, since it agreed with a commenter that such a 
limit would result in a more restrictive exposure limit for transient 
individuals than for the general public, for which there is no temporal 
peak limit. The Commission also agreed with commenters that its current 
rules limiting exposure for all populations do not specify a cap at any 
peak value above the continuous limits. As long as the average over any 
applicable time-averaged period provided in the rules is compliant with 
the continuous general population limit, a transient individual walking 
in a controlled area may be exposed above the general population limit 
in one location and below this limit in another location--how much 
above that limit an instantaneous exposure is permitted is not defined 
in the rules.
    32. Despite a commenter's concern about the use of the term 
``general population'' in conjunction with ``controlled,'' the 
Commission was not convinced by the concern over how the terminology 
should be applied, or that it was potentially introducing a third 
exposure category. The Commission noted that there are only two sets of 
limits--those which apply to supervised/trained workers (in an 
occupational setting) and those which apply to the general population 
(which includes unsupervised and untrained workers). The environment in 
which these exposures occur defines whether the exposure is in a 
controlled or uncontrolled setting. Because the Commission also adopted 
requirements for implementing RF safety programs at fixed sites, the 
only situation where transient exposure would be relevant would be in a 
controlled setting.
    33. Despite commenters' arguments that the Commission's 
requirements for transient individuals to be supervised regarding RF 
exposure areas are unnecessary and burdensome and ultimately would not 
be practical or effective, the Commission maintained that the 
supervision requirement is reasonable since a new employee would be 
made aware of areas where exposure could exceed the limits as part of 
his/her supervised orientation. The Commission agreed with commenters 
that third-party workers who perform tasks near RF sources should be 
trained and not considered transient. It also agreed that transient 
provisions are not to be used with any regularity and would not apply 
to persons (e.g., tree trimmers, window washers, etc.) expected to be 
in locations for extended periods where the general population RF 
limits are exceeded, nor to persons who traverse such areas on a 
regular basis. All such persons must receive appropriate training.
    34. Signage and Access Control. To the extent that required signs 
are used to warn workers so they are protected from RF exposure levels 
that exceeds the Commission's limits, the Commission decided that the 
following information must be included in such signs:

 RF energy advisory symbol (e.g., Figure A.3 of IEEE Standard 
C95.2-1999)
 A description of the RF source (e.g., transmitting antennas)
 Behavior necessary to comply with the exposure limits (e.g., 
do not climb tower unless you know that antennas are not energized; 
stay behind barrier or off of markings)
 Up-to-date contact information (e.g., monitored phone number 
or email address connected to someone with authority and capability to 
provide prompt response)

    35. As proposed in the 2013 RF Further Notice and supported in the 
record, the Commission adopted four categories for specifying RF safety 
program actions that reflect potential RF exposure scenarios, analogous 
to the categories in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics 
Engineers (IEEE) Standard C95.7-2014--``IEEE Recommended Practice for 
Radio Frequency Safety Programs, 3 kHz to 300 GHz.''
    36. Category One applies to locations where the operational 
characteristics of RF sources would not cause the exposure limit for 
the general population to be exceeded even with continuous or with 
source-based time-averaged exposure. Category One signs are optional 
and will show a green ``INFORMATION'' heading and may be used to offer 
information to the public

[[Page 18138]]

that a transmitting RF source is nearby but that it is compliant with 
the Commission's RF exposure limits regardless of duration or usage. 
Category One signs could include the following:

     An explanation of safety precautions to be observed when 
closer to the antenna than the information sign (where applicable)
     Reminder to obey all postings and boundaries (if higher 
categories are nearby)
     Up-to-date contact information (if higher categories are 
nearby)
     Place to get additional information (such as a website, if 
no higher categories are nearby)
    37. Category Two signs and positive access controls are required 
where the continuous exposure limit would be exceeded for the general 
population, but not for occupational personnel. Category Two signs must 
have the signal word ``NOTICE'' in blue color. Under certain controlled 
conditions, such as on a rooftop with limited access (e.g., a locked 
door with appropriate signage or antenna concealment), the Commission 
allowed that a sign be attached directly to the antenna. A label 
affixed to an antenna will be considered sufficient only if it is 
readable from the direction of approach and at least at the separation 
distance required for compliance with the general population exposure 
limit. Appropriate training is required for any occupational personnel 
with access to the controlled area where the general population 
exposure limit is exceeded, and transient individuals must be 
supervised by occupational personnel with appropriate training upon 
entering any of these areas. Use of time averaging would be required 
for transient individuals in the area where the continuous general 
population exposure limit is exceeded. Though not required, use of 
personal RF monitors in the areas where the general population exposure 
limit is exceeded is an option likely to ensure compliance.
    38. Category Three applies to locations where the exposure limit 
for occupational personnel would be exceeded potentially by up to a 
factor of ten. Category Three requires signs with the appropriate 
signal word ``CAUTION'' in yellow color, and control or indicators 
(e.g., chains, railings, contrasting paint, diagrams), in addition to 
the positive access control established for Category Two, surrounding 
the area in which the exposure limit is exceeded. The Commission 
allowed, under certain controlled conditions, that a sign may be 
attached directly to the antenna. A label affixed to an antenna will be 
considered sufficient only if it is readable from the direction of 
approach and at least at the separation distance required for 
compliance with the occupational exposure limit. Additionally, 
appropriate training is required for any occupational personnel with 
access to the controlled area where the general population exposure 
limit is exceeded. Use of time averaging is required for transient 
individuals to ensure compliance with the general population exposure 
limit. Appropriately trained occupational personnel may use RF monitors 
or personal protective equipment to ensure compliance with the 
occupational limits. If such mitigation procedures or power reduction, 
and therefore Category reduction, are not feasible, then the lockout/
tagout procedures specified in 29 CFR 1910.147 must be used.
    39. Category Four applies to locations where the exposure limit for 
occupational personnel would be exceeded by more than a factor of ten, 
or where there is a possibility for serious contact injury, such as a 
severe burn, permanent tissue damage, or shock. Where the occupational 
limit could be exceeded by a more than factor of ten, ``WARNING'' signs 
in orange color are required. ``DANGER'' signs in red color are 
required where immediate and serious injury will occur on contact, in 
addition to positive access control. For example, ``DANGER'' signs are 
required at the base of AM broadcast towers where serious injuries due 
to contact burns may occur. If a power reduction would not sufficiently 
protect against the relevant exposure limit in the event of human 
presence, lockout/tagout procedures must be followed to ensure human 
safety. To aid in protecting individuals from potentially serious and 
immediate harm, Category Four signs can be useful in indicating the 
most hazardous locations, even though Category Three signs already 
indicate an area surpassing the occupational exposure limit for 
continuous exposure. In Category Four locations, it is infeasible for 
any mitigation measures (e.g., time-averaging, personal protective 
equipment) other than power reduction to bring exposure levels within 
the Commission's occupational limits. See Figure 1 below for a visual 
description of these categories.

[[Page 18139]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01AP20.003

    40. Determination of the appropriate category designation must not 
be based on the exemptions from routine RF evaluation, but instead must 
be based on a specific site evaluation, consistent with the 
Commission's existing recommendations and rules for routine evaluation 
of compliance by measurement or computation as specified in OET 
Bulletin 65. Such methods as spatial averaging of plane-wave equivalent 
power-density, source-based time averaging, and SAR determinations may 
be used where appropriate to determine compliance with an applicable 
limit or classification of the environment into one of the categories. 
In contrast to IEEE's reference to ``action levels,'' the general 
population exposure limit for uncontrolled environments is a definite 
legal limit enforced by the Commission.
    41. Establishment of a controlled environment where this limit is 
exceeded (i.e., a Category Two, Three, or Four environment) would 
generally require some type of positive access control. These include 
locked doors, ladder cages, or effective fences, as well as enforced 
prohibition of public access to external surfaces of buildings, or 
generally, active preclusion of unauthorized access. It does not 
include natural barriers that tend to limit access but may not be 
always effective or other access restrictions that do not require any 
action on the part of the licensee or property management. Members of 
the general public (which can include children and vision-impaired 
persons) should not be expected to be aware of or act on posted 
exposure conditions only. Barriers and/or markings are required to 
complement signs to ensure compliance with the Commission's RF exposure 
limits. In response to commenters' concerns about the risk of RF 
overexposure to unaware workers and that signs should not be a catchall 
compliance measure, the Commission observed that an appropriately 
trained worker will be able to interpret the signs to appropriately 
control his/her exposure, and emphasized that untrained workers should 
not have access to controlled locations without supervision.
    42. The Commission required that signs have an up-to-date point of 
contact, but declined to require 24/7 monitoring. Instead, it directed 
the OET to update OET Bulletin 65 to specify that the contact point be 
continuously monitored during normal business hours, but did not 
specify a response time. In response to commenters' concerns regarding 
sign content and readability and the feasibility of implementing access 
controls, the Commission required that signs be legible and readily 
viewable and readable (as specified by the Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration and the former National Bureau of Standards) from 
the boundary (and as necessary, on the approach to this boundary) where 
the applicable RF exposure limits are exceeded, and that controls or 
indicators be placed at compliance boundaries; it declined to adopt a 
site safety plan or a setback of

[[Page 18140]]

1500 feet from all cell towers as required components. The Commission 
also concluded that parties responsible for the placement of signs 
should consider the potential implications of over-signage (e.g., undue 
alarm, confusion, and disregard of meaningful postings) and indicated 
that it will consider compliance with these rules on a case-by-case 
basis.
    43. Training to Ensure Compliance. Because RF safety awareness is 
vitally important to ensure that persons are fully aware of the 
potential for RF exposure and can exercise control over their exposure, 
the Commission directed the OET to consider the topics outlined in 
Annex A of ANSI/IEEE C95.7-2005--``IEEE Recommended Practice for Radio 
Frequency Safety Programs, 3 kHz to 300 GHz'' as training guidance to 
reference in a future revision of OET Bulletin 65. The Commission 
emphasized that it does not consider signage at an access door to be 
sufficient to achieve the goal of training compliance for those persons 
potentially exposed beyond that door. The area beyond the door must 
also be appropriately signed, marked, and/or cordoned with barriers. 
Lockout/tagout could satisfy a need for power reduction, but are not 
appropriate as universal requirements. In the case of training using 
verbal information, the Commission clarified that either spoken word or 
pre-recorded audio from an authorized individual qualified to provide 
instruction on how to remain compliant is acceptable. Training may also 
include web-based programs.
    44. Responsibility for Mitigation Measures. Despite comments 
requesting limitations on a licensee's responsibility for RF exposure 
mitigation measures, the Commission declined to adopt safe harbors 
(e.g., category-appropriate signage, access controls, indicative or 
physical barriers, RF safety training, information about RF exposure 
risks in accessible areas, and 24/7 contact information) from actions 
and events at a restricted area beyond the licensee's control.
    45. In response to comments on the responsibility of new entrants 
at multiple transmitter sites, the Commission clarified that while each 
nearby licensee shares responsibility for compliance, where it is 
demonstrated that a new or modified facility has put a previously-
compliant site out of compliance, the licensee of that new/modified 
facility is solely responsible both for any compliance and for any 
enforcement action that may occur. At the same time, while the 
requirement for new and renewal applicants to evaluate and ensure 
compliance at sites is intended as a mechanism to maintain ongoing 
compliance, it does not absolve other license holders of responsibility 
or place sole responsibility for mitigation on the newcomer to a site 
who may discover noncompliance by existing site occupants or may 
contribute further to pre-existing noncompliance. The Commission found 
that such a general policy would not only discourage cooperation and 
site agreements, but also inappropriately absolve the preexisting 
licensees of their violations. The Commission expects that 
consideration of available evidence on a case-by-case basis during any 
appropriate enforcement actions can avoid inappropriate assignment of 
liability where noncompliance is found.
    46. The Commission rejected a commenter's argument that, in 
addition to the Commission's requirements concerning warning signs and 
barriers, local authorities should be allowed to require additional 
signs and access restriction where they deem appropriate. While section 
332(c)(7)(B)(iv) of the Act permits State and local governments, when 
making decisions on the ``placement, construction, and modification'' 
of personal wireless service facilities, to consider whether such 
facilities comply with the Commission's regulations concerning RF 
emissions, it expressly prohibits them from imposing their own 
regulations on such facilities on the basis of the environmental 
effects of such emissions.
D. Transition Periods
    47. To allow licensees and manufacturers time to complete the 
required RF exposure evaluations or determine whether they are exempt 
from evaluation, as well as allow an orderly transition for the 
Commission's licensing Bureaus and equipment authorization program to 
incorporate the new exemption criteria into their equipment 
certification policies and procedures, the Commission set a timetable 
for conducting the reevaluation, under the new rules, of antenna 
locations that were previously exempt from evaluation. As a commenter 
requested, the Commission allowed two years from the effective date of 
the new rules to complete the evaluations and comply with the more 
specific RF exposure mitigation requirements adopted in the 2019 Second 
Report and Order, as necessary.
E. Conforming Edits
    48. In the 2013 RF Further Notice, the Commission proposed to 
reword Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 1.1310, 2.1091, and 2.1093 in its rules as 
necessary to ensure clarity and consistency. In addition, it proposed 
to make changes to specific sections of parts 15, 24, 25, 95, and 97 
for consistency and as necessary depending on the substantive changes 
in parts 1 and 2. Since the Commission proposed that its general RF 
exposure evaluation exemption criteria apply to all rule parts 
authorizing RF sources, specific exceptions in rule parts other than 
parts 1 and 2 were not necessary. No specific comments were received on 
these proposals and the Commission took the following actions:
     For applicants for equipment authorizations covered by 
parts 15 and 18, in Sec. Sec.  15.212(a)(viii), 15.247(i), 15.255(g), 
15.257(g), 15.319(i), 15.407(f), 15.709(h), and 18.313, we substitute 
our general exemption criteria for the specific exemption from routine 
evaluation;
     For applicants and licensees in the Public Mobile Service 
Personal Communications Service, we add and substitute our general 
exemption criteria for the specific exemption from routine evaluation 
in Sec. Sec.  22.379 and 24.52;
     For applicants and licensees of satellite earth stations, 
we remove the 5 percent criterion in Sec.  25.117(g) and introduce 
similar language to Sec.  25.115, paragraph (p), Sec.  25.129, 
paragraph (c), Sec.  25.149, paragraph (c)(3), and Sec.  25.271, 
paragraph (g);
     For applicants and licensees in the Miscellaneous Wireless 
Communications Services, Radio Broadcast Services, and Private Land 
Mobile Services we substitute our general exemption criteria for the 
specific exemption from routine evaluation by modifying Sec. Sec.  
27.52, 73.404, paragraph (e)(10), and by adding Sec.  90.223 and 
removing Sec.  90.223;
     We add mobile devices to Sec.  95.2385 for WMTS and edit 
Sec.  95.2585 to eliminate the limited specification of FDTD modeling 
for MedRadio service medical implants;
     For applicants and licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, 
we substitute our general exemption criteria for the specific exemption 
from routine evaluation based on power alone in Sec.  97.13(c)(1) and 
specify the use of occupational/controlled limits for amateurs where 
appropriate; and
     For applicants and licensees in the Multichannel Video 
Distribution and Data Service, we substitute our general exemption 
criteria for the specific exemption from routine evaluation of stations 
in the 12.2-12.7 GHz frequency band with output powers less than 1640 
watts EIRP, in Sec.  101.1425.
    Each of these changes will improve consistency and clarity of the 
rules.

[[Page 18141]]

Memorandum Opinion and Order

    49. In the 2019 Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission 
dismissed and alternatively denied a petition for reconsideration of 
its decision in the 2013 First RF Report and Order to classify the 
pinna (outer ear) as an extremity in RF exposure testing. The 
Commission found that the petition contained no new information that 
specifically addressed the effects of RF exposure on the pinnae 
themselves and otherwise relied on arguments that have been fully 
considered and rejected. Furthermore, the Commission found that the 
petition did not raise any new arguments when it cited alternative 
concerns related to pinnae classification, brain proximity, and human 
safety; offered no persuasive evidence that the Commission's analysis 
was flawed; and that it did not demonstrate any errors or omissions in 
the Commission's previous decision. For these reasons, the Commission 
dismissed and alternatively denied the petition for reconsideration.

Termination of Notice of Inquiry (ET Docket No. 13-84)

    50. In the 2019 Termination of Notice of Inquiry, the Commission 
terminated the Notice of Inquiry proceeding in ET Docket No. 13-84 that 
it initiated in 2013 to review its existing RF exposure standards and 
certain related policies without making any changes to the Commission's 
RF rules. While some commenters suggested that the Commission should 
revise it RF exposure standards to be consistent with other 
international standards, the Commission declined to make any changes 
that would effectively relax its current standards, concluding that the 
best available evidence, including consideration of the opinions 
provided by expert U.S. federal health agencies, supports maintaining 
the Commission's existing RF exposure standards.. The Commission also 
determined that commenters suggesting alternatives that would tighten 
the FCC's existing RF exposure standards did not offer a sufficient 
scientific basis as to how their proposed reductions were derived, why 
the proposed reductions specified the appropriate amount, or how their 
proposed alternative reductions may impact the viability or performance 
of wireless services and devices.

III. Procedural Matters

A. Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis

    51. This document contains new information collections subject to 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13.

B. Congressional Review Act

    52. The Commission will send a copy of the Second Report and Order, 
Memorandum Opinion and Order, and Termination of Notice of Inquiry in a 
report to be sent to Congress and the Government Accountability Office 
pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).

C. Final Regulatory Flexibility Act

    53. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) requires that an 
agency prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for notice and comment 
rulemakings, unless the agency certifies that ``the rule will not, if 
promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities.'' Accordingly, the Commission has prepared a Final 
Regulatory Flexibility.
    54. Analysis (FRFA), set forth in Appendix D of the 2019 Second 
Report and Order, Memorandum Opinion and Order, and Termination of 
Notice of Inquiry concerning the possible impact of the rule changes.

IV. Ordering Clauses

    55. Accordingly, it is ordered that pursuant to sections 1, 4(i), 
4(j), 301, 302, 303(r), 307, 308, 309, 332(a)(1), 332(c)(7)(B)(iv), and 
403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 
154(i), 154(j), 301, 302a, 303(r), 307, 308, 309, 332(a)(1), 
332(c)(7)(B)(iv), 403; the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.; and section 704(b) of the Telecommunications 
Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-104, the Second Report and Order in ET Docket 
No. 03-137 is hereby adopted.
    56. It is further ordered that parts 1, 2, 15, 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 
73, 90, 95, 97, and 101 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR parts 1, 2, 
15, 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 73, 90, 95, 97 and 101, are amended, effective 
June 1, 2020, except for Sec. Sec.  2.1091 and 2.1093 of the 
Commission's rules, which contain new or modified information 
collection requirements that require approval by the Office of 
Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act and will become 
effective after the Commission publishes a notice in the Federal 
Register announcing such approval and the relevant effective date.
    57. It is further ordered that pursuant to section 405 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 405, and Sec.  1.429 
of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.429, this Memorandum Opinion and 
Order is hereby adopted and the Petition for Reconsideration filed by 
the American Association for Justice is dismissed and alternatively 
denied.
    58. It is further ordered that pursuant to authority contained in 
sections 4(i) and 4(j) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 
47 U.S.C. 154(i), 154(j), and Sec.  1.430 of the Commission's rules, 47 
CFR 1.430, the Notice of Inquiry in ET Docket No. 13-84 is terminated.
    59. It is further ordered that pursuant to the authority contained 
in sections 4(i) and 4(j) of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 154(j), and Sec.  1.430 of the Commission's 
rules, 47 CFR 1.430, ET Docket No. 03-137 in terminated.
    60. It is further ordered that the Commission's Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a 
copy of the Second Report and Order, including the Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis, and the Memorandum Opinion and Order, to the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 1

    Communications, Telecommunications.

47 CFR Part 2

    Communications equipment, Radio, Telecommunications, Television.

47 CFR Part 15

    Communications equipment, Labeling, Radio.

47 CFR Part 18

    Household appliances, Medical devices, Radio, Scientific equipment, 
Radio.

47 CFR Part 22

    Communications, Communications equipment, Radio, 
Telecommunications.

47 CFR Part 24

    Communications equipment, Radio, Telecommunications.

47 CFR Part 27 and 73

    Communications equipment, Radio, Television.

47 CFR Part 90, 95, 97, and 101

    Communications equipment, Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.

Final Rules

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal 
Communication Commission amends 47 CFR parts 1, 2,

[[Page 18142]]

15, 24, 25, 27, 73, 90, 95, 97, and 101 as follows:

PART 1--PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

0
1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. chs. 2, 5, 9, 13; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, 
unless otherwise noted.


0
2. Section 1.1307 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1.1307  Actions that may have a significant environmental effect, 
for which Environmental Assessments (EA) must be prepared.

* * * * *
    (b)(1) Requirements. (i) With respect to the limits on human 
exposure to RF provided in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter, applicants to 
the Commission for the grant or modification of construction permits, 
licenses or renewals thereof, temporary authorities, equipment 
authorizations, or any other authorizations for radiofrequency sources 
must either:
    (A) Determine that they qualify for an exemption pursuant to Sec.  
1.1307(b)(3);
    (B) Prepare an evaluation of the human exposure to RF radiation 
pursuant to Sec.  1.1310 and include in the application a statement 
confirming compliance with the limits in Sec.  1.1310; or
    (C) Prepare an Environmental Assessment if those RF sources would 
cause human exposure to levels of RF radiation in excess of the limits 
in Sec.  1.1310.
    (ii) Compliance with these limits for fixed RF source(s) may be 
accomplished by use of mitigation actions, as provided in Sec.  
1.1307(b)(4). Upon request by the Commission, the party seeking or 
holding such authorization must submit technical information showing 
the basis for such compliance, either by exemption or evaluation. 
Notwithstanding the preceding requirements, in the event that RF 
sources cause human exposure to levels of RF radiation in excess of the 
limits in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter, such RF exposure exemptions and 
evaluations are not deemed sufficient to show that there is no 
significant effect on the quality of the human environment or that the 
RF sources are categorically excluded from environmental processing.
    (2) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following 
definitions shall apply.
    Available maximum time-averaged power for an RF source is the 
maximum available RF power (into a matched load) as averaged over a 
time-averaging period;
    Category One is any spatial region that is compliant with the 
general population exposure limit with continuous exposure or source-
based time-averaged exposure;
    Category Two is any spatial region where the general population 
exposure limit is exceeded but that is compliant with the occupational 
exposure limit with continuous exposure;
    Category Three is any spatial region where the occupational 
exposure limit is exceeded but by no more than ten times the limit;
    Category Four is any spatial region where the exposure is more than 
ten times the occupational exposure limit or where there is a 
possibility for serious injury on contact.
    Continuous exposure refers to the maximum time-averaged exposure at 
a given location for an RF source and assumes that exposure may take 
place indefinitely. The exposure limits in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter 
are used to establish the spatial regions where mitigation measures are 
necessary assuming continuous exposure as prescribed in Sec.  
1.1307(b)(4) of this chapter.
    Effective Radiated Power (ERP) is the product of the maximum 
antenna gain which is the largest far-field power gain relative to a 
dipole in any direction for each transverse polarization component, and 
the maximum delivered time-averaged power which is the largest net 
power delivered or supplied to an antenna as averaged over a time-
averaging period; ERP is summed over two polarizations when present;
    Exemption for (an) RF source(s) is solely from the obligation to 
perform a routine environmental evaluation to demonstrate compliance 
with the RF exposure limits in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter; it is not 
exemption from the equipment authorization procedures described in part 
2 of this chapter, not exemption from general obligations of compliance 
with the RF exposure limits in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter, and not 
exemption from determination of whether there is no significant effect 
on the quality of the human environment under Sec.  1.1306 of this 
chapter.
    Fixed RF source is one that is physically secured at one location, 
even temporarily, and is not able to be easily moved to another 
location while radiating;
    Mobile device is as defined in Sec.  2.1091(b) of this chapter;
    Plane-wave equivalent power density is the square of the root-mean-
square (rms) electric field strength divided by the impedance of free 
space (377 ohms).
    Portable device is as defined in Sec.  2.1093(b) of this chapter;
    Positive access control is mitigation by proactive preclusion of 
unauthorized access to the region surrounding an RF source where the 
continuous exposure limit for the general population is exceeded. 
Examples of such controls include locked doors, ladder cages, or 
effective fences, as well as enforced prohibition of public access to 
external surfaces of buildings. However, it does not include natural 
barriers or other access restrictions that did not require any action 
on the part of the licensee or property management.
    Radiating structure is an unshielded RF current-carrying conductor 
that generates an RF reactive near electric or magnetic field and/or 
radiates an RF electromagnetic wave. It is the component of an RF 
source that transmits, generates, or reradiates an RF fields, such as 
an antenna, aperture, coil, or plate.
    RF source is Commission-regulated equipment that transmits or 
generates RF fields or waves, whether intentionally or unintentionally, 
via one or more radiating structure(s). Multiple RF sources may exist 
in a single device.
    Separation distance (variable R in Table 1) is the minimum distance 
in any direction from any part of a radiating structure and any part of 
the body of a nearby person;
    Source-based time averaging is an average of instantaneous exposure 
over a time-averaging period that is based on an inherent property or 
duty-cycle of a device to ensure compliance with the continuous 
exposure limits;
    Time-averaging period is a time period not to exceed 30 minutes for 
fixed RF sources or a time period inherent from device transmission 
characteristics not to exceed 30 minutes for mobile and portable RF 
sources;
    Transient individual is an untrained person in a location where 
occupational/controlled limits apply, and he or she must be made aware 
of the potential for exposure and be supervised by trained personnel 
pursuant to Sec.  1.1307(b)(4) of this chapter where use of time 
averaging is required to ensure compliance with the general population 
exposure limits in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter.
    (3) Determination of exemption. (i) For single RF sources (i.e., 
any single fixed RF source, mobile device, or portable device, as 
defined in paragraph (b)(2) of this section): A single RF source is 
exempt if:
    (A) The available maximum time-averaged power is no more than 1 mW, 
regardless of separation distance. This exemption may not be used in

[[Page 18143]]

conjunction with other exemption criteria other than those in paragraph 
(b)(3)(ii)(A) of this section. Medical implant devices may only use 
this exemption and that in paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(A);
    (B) Or the available maximum time-averaged power or effective 
radiated power (ERP), whichever is greater, is less than or equal to 
the threshold Pth (mW) described in the following formula. This method 
shall only be used at separation distances (cm) from 0.5 centimeters to 
40 centimeters and at frequencies from 0.3 GHz to 6 GHz (inclusive). 
Pth is given by:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01AP20.004

    (C) Or using Table 1 and the minimum separation distance (R in 
meters) from the body of a nearby person for the frequency (f in MHz) 
at which the source operates, the ERP (watts) is no more than the 
calculated value prescribed for that frequency. For the exemption in 
Table 1 to apply, R must be at least [lambda]/2[pi], where [lambda] is 
the free-space operating wavelength in meters. If the ERP of a single 
RF source is not easily obtained, then the available maximum time-
averaged power may be used in lieu of ERP if the physical dimensions of 
the radiating structure(s) do not exceed the electrical length of 
[lambda]/4 or if the antenna gain is less than that of a half-wave 
dipole (1.64 linear value).

   Table 1 to Sec.   1.1307(b)(3)(i)(C)--Single RF Sources Subject to
                    Routine Environmental Evaluation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        RF Source  frequency (MHz)              Threshold ERP (watts)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.3-1.34..................................  1,920 R\2\.
1.34-30...................................  3,450 R\2\/f\2\.
30-300....................................  3.83 R\2\.
300-1,500.................................  0.0128 R\2\f.
1,500-100,000.............................  19.2R\2\.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) For multiple RF sources: Multiple RF sources are exempt if:
    (A) The available maximum time-averaged power of each source is no 
more than 1 mW and there is a separation distance of two centimeters 
between any portion of a radiating structure operating and the nearest 
portion of any other radiating structure in the same device, except if 
the sum of multiple sources is less than 1 mW during the time-averaging 
period, in which case they may be treated as a single source 
(separation is not required). This exemption may not be used in 
conjunction with other exemption criteria other than those is paragraph 
(b)(3)(i)(A) of this section. Medical implant devices may only use this 
exemption and that in paragraph (b)(3)(i)(A).
    (B) in the case of fixed RF sources operating in the same time-
averaging period, or of multiple mobile or portable RF sources within a 
device operating in the same time averaging period, if the sum of the 
fractional contributions to the applicable thresholds is less than or 
equal to 1 as indicated in the following equation.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01AP20.005

Where:

a = number of fixed, mobile, or portable RF sources claiming 
exemption using paragraph (b)(3)(i)(B) of this section for Pth, 
including existing exempt transmitters and those being added.
b = number of fixed, mobile, or portable RF sources claiming 
exemption using paragraph (b)(3)(i)(C) of this section for Threshold 
ERP, including existing exempt transmitters and those being added.

[[Page 18144]]

c = number of existing fixed, mobile, or portable RF sources with 
known evaluation for the specified minimum distance including 
existing evaluated transmitters.
Pi = the available maximum time-averaged power or the ERP, whichever 
is greater, for fixed, mobile, or portable RF source i at a distance 
between 0.5 cm and 40 cm (inclusive).
Pth,i = the exemption threshold power (Pth) according to paragraph 
(b)(3)(i)(B) of this section for fixed, mobile, or portable RF 
source i.
ERPj = the ERP of fixed, mobile, or portable RF source j.
ERPth,j = exemption threshold ERP for fixed, mobile, or portable RF 
source j, at a distance of at least [lambda]/2[pi] according to the 
applicable formula of paragraph (b)(3)(i)(C) of this section.
Evaluatedk = the maximum reported SAR or MPE of fixed, mobile, or 
portable RF source k either in the device or at the transmitter site 
from an existing evaluation at the location of exposure.
Exposure Limitk = either the general population/uncontrolled maximum 
permissible exposure (MPE) or specific absorption rate (SAR) limit 
for each fixed, mobile, or portable RF source k, as applicable from 
Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter.

    (4) Mitigation. (i) As provided in paragraphs (b)(4)(ii) through 
(vi) of this section, specific mitigation actions are required for 
fixed RF sources to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with our 
exposure limits, including the implementation of an RF safety plan, 
restriction of access to those RF sources, and disclosure of spatial 
regions where exposure limits are exceeded.
    (ii) Category One--INFORMATION: No mitigation actions are required 
when the RF source does not cause continuous or source-based time-
averaged exposure in excess of the general population limit in sSec.  
1.1310 of this part. Optionally a green ``INFORMATION'' sign may offer 
information to those persons who might be approaching RF sources. This 
optional sign, when used, must include at least the following 
information: Appropriate signal word ``INFORMATION'' and associated 
color (green), an explanation of the safety precautions to be observed 
when closer to the antenna than the information sign, a reminder to 
obey all postings and boundaries (if higher categories are nearby), up-
to-date licensee (or operator) contact information (if higher 
categories are nearby), and a place to get additional information (such 
as a website, if no higher categories are nearby).
    (iii) Category Two--NOTICE: Mitigation actions are required in the 
form of signs and positive access control surrounding the boundary 
where the continuous exposure limit is exceeded for the general 
population, with the appropriate signal word ``NOTICE'' and associated 
color (blue) on the signs. Signs must contain the components discussed 
in paragraph (b)(4)(vi) of this section. Under certain controlled 
conditions, such as on a rooftop with limited access, a sign attached 
directly to the surface of an antenna will be considered sufficient if 
the sign specifies a minimum approach distance and is readable at this 
separation distance and at locations required for compliance with the 
general population exposure limit in Sec.  1.1310 of this part. 
Appropriate training is required for any occupational personnel with 
access to controlled areas within restrictive barriers where the 
general population exposure limit is exceeded, and transient 
individuals must be supervised by trained occupational personnel upon 
entering any of these areas. Use of time averaging is required for 
transient individuals to ensure compliance with the general population 
exposure limit.
    (iv) Category Three--CAUTION: Signs (with the appropriate signal 
word ``CAUTION'' and associated color (yellow) on the signs), controls, 
or indicators (e.g., chains, railings, contrasting paint, diagrams) are 
required (in addition to the positive access control established for 
Category Two) surrounding the area in which the exposure limit for 
occupational personnel in a controlled environment is exceeded by no 
more than a factor of ten. Signs must contain the components discussed 
in paragraph (b)(4)(vi) of this section. If the boundaries between 
Category Two and Three are such that placement of both Category Two and 
Three signs would be in the same location, then the Category Two sign 
is optional. Under certain controlled conditions, such as on a rooftop 
with limited access, a sign may be attached directly to the surface of 
an antenna within a controlled environment if it specifies the minimum 
approach distance and is readable at this distance and at locations 
required for compliance with the occupational exposure limit in Sec.  
1.1310 of this part. If signs are not used at the occupational exposure 
limit boundary, controls or indicators (e.g., chains, railings, 
contrasting paint, diagrams, etc.) must designate the boundary where 
the occupational exposure limit is exceeded. Additionally, appropriate 
training is required for any occupational personnel with access to the 
controlled area where the general population exposure limit is 
exceeded, and transient individuals must be supervised by trained 
personnel upon entering any of these areas. Use of time averaging is 
required for transient individuals to ensure compliance with the 
general population exposure limit. Further mitigation by reducing 
exposure time in accord with six-minute time averaging is required for 
occupational personnel in the area in which the occupational exposure 
limit is exceeded. However, proper use of RF personal protective 
equipment may be considered sufficient in lieu of time averaging for 
occupational personnel in the areas in which the occupational exposure 
limit is exceeded. If such procedures or power reduction, and therefore 
Category reduction, are not feasible, then lockout/tagout procedures in 
29 CFR 1910.147 must be followed.
    (v) Category Four--WARNING/DANGER: Where the occupational limit 
could be exceeded by a factor of more than ten, ``WARNING'' signs with 
the associated color (orange), controls, or indicators (e.g., chains, 
railings, contrasting paint, diagrams) are required (in addition to the 
positive access control established for Category Two) surrounding the 
area in which the occupational exposure limit in a controlled 
environment is exceeded by more than a factor of ten Signs must contain 
the components discussed in paragraph (b)(4)(vi) of this section. 
``DANGER'' signs with the associated color (red) are required where 
immediate and serious injury will occur on contact, in addition to 
positive access control, regardless of mitigation actions taken in 
Categories Two or Three. If the boundaries between Category Three and 
Four are such that placement of both Category Three and Four signs 
would be in the same location, then the Category Three sign is 
optional. No access is permitted without Category reduction. If power 
reduction, and therefore Category reduction, is not feasible, then 
lockout/tagout procedures in 29 CFR 1910.147 must be followed.
    (vi) RF exposure advisory signs must be viewable and readable from 
the boundary where the applicable exposure limits are exceeded, 
pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.145, and include at least the following five 
components:
    (A) Appropriate signal word, associated color {i.e., {DANGER'' 
(red), ``WARNING'' (orange), ``CAUTION,'' (yellow) ``NOTICE'' 
(blue){time} ;
    (B) RF energy advisory symbol;
    (C) An explanation of the RF source;
    (D) Behavior necessary to comply with the exposure limits; and
    (E) Up-to-date contact information.
    (5) Responsibility for compliance. (i) In general, when the 
exposure limits specified in Sec.  1.1310 of this part are

[[Page 18145]]

exceeded in an accessible area due to the emissions from multiple fixed 
RF sources, actions necessary to bring the area into compliance or 
preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) as specified in Sec.  
1.1311 of this part are the shared responsibility of all licensees 
whose RF sources produce, at the area in question, levels that exceed 
5% of the applicable exposure limit proportional to power. However, a 
licensee demonstrating that its facility was not the most recently 
modified or newly-constructed facility at the site establishes a 
rebuttable presumption that such licensee should not be liable in an 
enforcement proceeding relating to the period of non-compliance. Field 
strengths must be squared to be proportional to SAR or power density. 
Specifically, these compliance requirements apply if the square of the 
electric or magnetic field strength exposure level applicable to a 
particular RF source exceeds 5% of the square of the electric or 
magnetic field strength limit at the area in question where the levels 
due to multiple fixed RF sources exceed the exposure limit. Site owners 
and managers are expected to allow applicants and licensees to take 
reasonable steps to comply with the requirements contained in paragraph 
(b)(1) of this section and, where feasible, should encourage co-
location of RF sources and common solutions for controlling access to 
areas where the RF exposure limits contained in Sec.  1.1310 of this 
part might be exceeded. Applicants and licensees are required to share 
technical information necessary to ensure joint compliance with the 
exposure limits, including informing other licensees at a site in 
question of evaluations indicating possible non-compliance with the 
exposure limits.
    (ii) Applicants for proposed RF sources that would cause non-
compliance with the limits specified in Sec.  1.1310 at an accessible 
area previously in compliance must submit an EA if emissions from the 
applicant's RF source would produce, at the area in question, levels 
that exceed 5% of the applicable exposure limit. Field strengths must 
be squared if necessary to be proportional to SAR or power density.
    (iii) Renewal applicants whose RF sources would cause non-
compliance with the limits specified in Sec.  1.1310 at an accessible 
area previously in compliance must submit an EA if emissions from the 
applicant's RF source would produce, at the area in question, levels 
that exceed 5% of the applicable exposure limit. Field strengths must 
be squared if necessary to be proportional to SAR or power density.
* * * * *

0
3. Section 1.1310 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1.1310  Radiofrequency radiation exposure limits.

    (a) Specific absorption rate (SAR) shall be used to evaluate the 
environmental impact of human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation 
as specified in Sec.  1.1307(b) of this part within the frequency range 
of 100 kHz to 6 GHz (inclusive).
    (b) The SAR limits for occupational/controlled exposure are 0.4 W/
kg, as averaged over the whole body, and a peak spatial-average SAR of 
8 W/kg, averaged over any 1 gram of tissue (defined as a tissue volume 
in the shape of a cube). Exceptions are the parts of the human body 
treated as extremities, such as hands, wrists, feet, ankles, and 
pinnae, where the peak spatial-average SAR limit for occupational/
controlled exposure is 20 W/kg, averaged over any 10 grams of tissue 
(defined as a tissue volume in the shape of a cube). Exposure may be 
averaged over a time period not to exceed 6 minutes to determine 
compliance with occupational/controlled SAR limits.
    (c) The SAR limits for general population/uncontrolled exposure are 
0.08 W/kg, as averaged over the whole body, and a peak spatial-average 
SAR of 1.6 W/kg, averaged over any 1 gram of tissue (defined as a 
tissue volume in the shape of a cube). Exceptions are the parts of the 
human body treated as extremities, such as hands, wrists, feet, ankles, 
and pinnae, where the peak spatial-average SAR limit is 4 W/kg, 
averaged over any 10 grams of tissue (defined as a tissue volume in the 
shape of a cube). Exposure may be averaged over a time period not to 
exceed 30 minutes to determine compliance with general population/
uncontrolled SAR limits.
    (d)(1) Evaluation with respect to the SAR limits in this section 
must demonstrate compliance with both the whole-body and peak spatial-
average limits using technically supported measurement or computational 
methods and exposure conditions in advance of authorization (licensing 
or equipment certification) and in a manner that facilitates 
independent assessment and, if appropriate, enforcement. Numerical 
computation of SAR must be supported by adequate documentation showing 
that the numerical method as implemented in the computational software 
has been fully validated; in addition, the equipment under test and 
exposure conditions must be modeled according to protocols established 
by FCC-accepted numerical computation standards or available FCC 
procedures for the specific computational method.
    (2) For operations within the frequency range of 300 kHz and 6 GHz 
(inclusive), the limits for maximum permissible exposure (MPE), derived 
from whole-body SAR limits and listed in Table 1 in paragraph (e)(1) of 
this section, may be used instead of whole-body SAR limits as set forth 
in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section to evaluate the 
environmental impact of human exposure to RF radiation as specified in 
Sec.  1.1307(b) of this part, except for portable devices as defined in 
Sec.  2.1093 of this chapter as these evaluations shall be performed 
according to the SAR provisions in Sec.  2.1093.
    (3) At operating frequencies above 6 GHz, the MPE limits listed in 
Table 1 in paragraph (e)(1) of this section shall be used in all cases 
to evaluate the environmental impact of human exposure to RF radiation 
as specified in Sec.  1.1307(b) of this part.
    (4) Both the MPE limits listed in Table 1 in paragraph (e)(1) of 
this section and the SAR limits as set forth in paragraphs (a) through 
(c) of this section are for continuous exposure, that is, for 
indefinite time periods. Exposure levels higher than the limits are 
permitted for shorter exposure times, as long as the average exposure 
over a period not more than the specified averaging time in Table 1 in 
paragraph (e)(1) is less than (or equal to) the exposure limits. 
Detailed information on our policies regarding procedures for 
evaluating compliance with all of these exposure limits can be found in 
the most recent edition of FCC's OET Bulletin 65, ``Evaluating 
Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency 
Electromagnetic Fields,'' and its supplements, all available at the 
FCC's internet website: https://www.fcc.gov/general/oet-bulletins-line, 
and in the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) Laboratory 
Division Knowledge Database (KDB) (https://www.fcc.gov/kdb).

    Note to paragraphs (a) through (d):  SAR is a measure of the 
rate of energy absorption due to exposure to RF electromagnetic 
energy. These SAR limits to be used for evaluation are based 
generally on criteria published by the American National Standards 
Institute (ANSI) for localized SAR in Section 4.2 of ``IEEE Standard 
for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency 
Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz,'' ANSI/IEEE Std C95.1-
1992, copyright 1992 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics 
Engineers, Inc., New York, New York 10017. These criteria

[[Page 18146]]

for SAR evaluation are similar to those recommended by the National 
Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) in 
``Biological Effects and Exposure Criteria for Radiofrequency 
Electromagnetic Fields,'' NCRP Report No. 86, Section 17.4.5, 
copyright 1986 by NCRP, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Limits for whole 
body SAR and peak spatial-average SAR are based on recommendations 
made in both of these documents. The MPE limits in Table 1 are based 
generally on criteria published by the NCRP in ``Biological Effects 
and Exposure Criteria for Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields,'' 
NCRP Report No. 86, Sections 17.4.1, 17.4.1.1, 17.4.2 and 17.4.3, 
copyright 1986 by NCRP, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. In the frequency 
range from 100 MHz to 1500 MHz, these MPE exposure limits for field 
strength and power density are also generally based on criteria 
recommended by the ANSI in Section 4.1 of ``IEEE Standard for Safety 
Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency 
Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz,'' ANSI/IEEE Std C95.1-
1992, copyright 1992 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics 
Engineers, Inc., New York, New York 10017.

    (e)(1) Table 1 to Sec.  1.1310(e)(1) sets forth limits for Maximum 
Permissible Exposure (MPE) to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

                  Table 1 to Sec.   1.1310(e)(1)--Limits for Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Electric field          Magnetic field        Power density (mW/   Averaging time
  Frequency range (MHz)        strength (V/m)          strength (A/m)              cm\2\)            (minutes)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (i) Limits for Occupational/Controlled Exposure
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.3-3.0..................  614...................  1.63..................  *(100)...............             <=6
3.0-30...................  1842/f................  4.89/f................  *(900/f\2\)..........              <6
30-300...................  61.4..................  0.163.................  1.0..................              <6
300-1,500................  ......................  ......................  f/300................              <6
1,500-100,000............  ......................  ......................  5....................              <6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (ii) Limits for General Population/Uncontrolled Exposure
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.3-1.34.................  614...................  1.63..................  *(100)...............             <30
1.34-30..................  824/f.................  2.19/f................  *(180/f\2\)..........             <30
30-300...................  27.5..................  0.073.................  0.2..................             <30
300-1,500................  ......................  ......................  f/1500...............             <30
1,500-100,000............  ......................  ......................  1.0..................             <30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
f = frequency in MHz. * = Plane-wave equivalent power density.

    (2) Occupational/controlled exposure limits apply in situations in 
which persons are exposed as a consequence of their employment provided 
those persons are fully aware of the potential for exposure and can 
exercise control over their exposure. The phrase fully aware in the 
context of applying these exposure limits means that an exposed person 
has received written and/or verbal information fully explaining the 
potential for RF exposure resulting from his or her employment. With 
the exception of transient persons, this phrase also means that an 
exposed person has received appropriate training regarding work 
practices relating to controlling or mitigating his or her exposure. In 
situations when an untrained person is transient through a location 
where occupational/controlled limits apply, he or she must be made 
aware of the potential for exposure and be supervised by trained 
personnel pursuant to Sec.  1.1307(b)(2) of this part where use of time 
averaging is required to ensure compliance with the general population 
exposure limit. The phrase exercise control means that an exposed 
person is allowed and also knows how to reduce or avoid exposure by 
administrative or engineering work practices, such as use of personal 
protective equipment or time averaging of exposure.
    (3) General population/uncontrolled exposure limits apply in 
situations in which the general public may be exposed, or in which 
persons who are exposed as a consequence of their employment may not be 
fully aware of the potential for exposure or cannot exercise control 
over their exposure. For example, RF sources intended for consumer use 
shall be subject to the limits for general population/uncontrolled 
exposure in this section.


Sec.  1.4000  [Amended]

0
4. Section 1.4000 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph (c).

PART 2--FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND RADIO TREATY MATTERS; GENERAL 
RULES AND REGULATIONS

0
5. The authority citation for part 2 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 302a, 303, and 336, unless otherwise 
noted.


0
6. Section 2.1033 is amended by adding paragraph (f) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  2.1033  Application for certification.

* * * * *
    (f) Radio frequency devices operating under the provisions of this 
part are subject to the radio frequency radiation exposure requirements 
specified in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 1.1310, 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this 
chapter, as appropriate. Applications for equipment authorization of RF 
sources under this section must contain a statement confirming 
compliance with these requirements. Technical information showing the 
basis for this statement must be submitted to the Commission upon 
request.

0
7. Section 2.1091 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (c), 
removing paragraph (d) introductory text, and revising paragraphs 
(d)(1) and (2) to read as follows:


Sec.  2.1091  Radiofrequency radiation exposure evaluation: mobile 
devices.

* * * * *
    (b) For purposes of this section, the definitions in Sec.  
1.1307(b)(2) of this chapter shall apply. A mobile device is defined as 
a transmitting device designed to be used in other than fixed locations 
and to generally be used in such a way that a separation distance of at 
least 20 centimeters is normally maintained between the RF source's 
radiating structure(s) and the body of the user or nearby persons. In 
this context, the term ``fixed location'' means that the device is 
physically secured at one location and is not able to be easily moved 
to another location while transmitting. Transmitting devices designed 
to be used by consumers or workers that can be easily re-located, such 
as wireless devices

[[Page 18147]]

associated with a personal desktop computer, are considered to be 
mobile devices if they meet the 20-centimeter separation requirement.
    (c)(1) Evaluation of compliance with the exposure limits in Sec.  
1.1310 of this chapter, and preparation of an EA if the limits are 
exceeded, is necessary for mobile devices with single RF sources having 
either more than an available maximum time-averaged power of 1 mW or 
more than the ERP listed in Table 1 to Sec.  1.1307(b)(3)(i)(C), 
whichever is greater. For mobile devices not exempt by Sec.  
1.1307(b)(3)(i)(C) at distances from 20 centimeters to 40 centimeters 
and frequencies from 0.3 GHz to 6 GHz, evaluation of compliance with 
the exposure limits in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter is necessary if the 
ERP of the device is greater than ERP20cm in the formula 
below. If the ERP of a single RF source at distances from 20 
centimeters to 40 centimeters and frequencies from 0.3 GHz to 6 GHz is 
not easily obtained, then the available maximum time-averaged power may 
be used (i.e., without consideration of ERP) in comparison with the 
following formula only if the physical dimensions of the radiating 
structure(s) do not exceed the electrical length of [lambda]/4 or if 
the antenna gain is less than that of a half-wave dipole (1.64 linear 
value).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01AP20.006

    (2) For multiple mobile or portable RF sources within a device 
operating in the same time averaging period, routine environmental 
evaluation is required if the formula in Sec.  1.1307(b)(3)(ii)(B) of 
this chapter is applied to determine the exemption ratio and the result 
is greater than 1.
    (3) Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, any other single 
mobile or multiple mobile and portable RF source(s) associated with a 
device is exempt from routine environmental evaluation for RF exposure 
prior to equipment authorization or use, except as specified in Sec.  
1.1307(c) and (d) of this chapter.
    (d)(1) Applications for equipment authorization of mobile RF 
sources subject to routine environmental evaluation must contain a 
statement confirming compliance with the limits specified in Sec.  
1.1310 of this chapter as part of their application. Technical 
information showing the basis for this statement must be submitted to 
the Commission upon request. In general, maximum time-averaged power 
levels must be used for evaluation. All unlicensed personal 
communications service (PCS) devices and unlicensed NII devices shall 
be subject to the limits for general population/uncontrolled exposure.
    (2)(i) For purposes of analyzing mobile transmitting devices under 
the occupational/controlled criteria specified in Sec.  1.1310 of this 
chapter, time averaging provisions of the limits may be used in 
conjunction with the maximum duty factor to determine maximum time-
averaged exposure levels under normal operating conditions.
    (ii) Such time averaging provisions based on maximum duty factor 
may not be used in determining exposure levels for devices intended for 
use by consumers in general population/uncontrolled environments as 
defined in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter. However, ``source-based'' time 
averaging based on an inherent property of the RF source is allowed 
over a time period not to exceed 30 minutes. An example of this is the 
determination of exposure from a device that uses digital technology 
such as a time-division multiple-access (TDMA) scheme for transmission 
of a signal.
* * * * *

0
8. Section 2.1093 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) through (d) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  2.1093  Radiofrequency radiation exposure evaluation: portable 
devices.

* * * * *
    (b) For purposes of this section, the definitions in Sec.  
1.1307(b)(2) of this chapter shall apply. A portable device is defined 
as a transmitting device designed to be used in other than fixed 
locations and to generally be used in such a way that the RF source's 
radiating structure(s) is/are within 20 centimeters of the body of the 
user.
    (c)(1) Evaluation of compliance with the exposure limits in Sec.  
1.1310 of this chapter, and preparation of an EA if the limits are 
exceeded, is necessary for portable devices having single RF sources 
with more than an available maximum time-averaged power of 1 mW, more 
than the ERP listed in Table 1 to Sec.  1.1307(b)(3)(i)(C), or more 
than the Pth in the following formula, whichever is greater. The 
following formula shall only be used in conjunction with portable 
devices not exempt by Sec.  1.1307(b)(3)(i)(C) at distances from 0.5 
centimeters to 20 centimeters and frequencies from 0.3 GHz to 6 GHz.

[[Page 18148]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01AP20.007

d = the minimum separation distance (cm) in any direction from any 
part of the device antenna(s) or radiating structure(s) to the body 
of the device user.

    (2) For multiple mobile or portable RF sources within a device 
operating in the same time averaging period, evaluation is required if 
the formula in Sec.  1.1307(b)(3)(ii)(B) of this chapter is applied to 
determine the exemption ratio and the result is greater than 1.
    (3) Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, any other single 
portable or multiple mobile and portable RF source(s) associated with a 
device is exempt from routine environmental evaluation for RF exposure 
prior to equipment authorization or use, except as specified in Sec.  
1.1307(c) and (d) of this chapter.
    (d)(1) Applications for equipment authorization of portable RF 
sources subject to routine environmental evaluation must contain a 
statement confirming compliance with the limits specified in Sec.  
1.1310 of this chapter as part of their application. Technical 
information showing the basis for this statement must be submitted to 
the Commission upon request. The SAR limits specified in Sec.  
1.1310(a) through (c) of this chapter shall be used for evaluation of 
portable devices transmitting in the frequency range from 100 kHz to 6 
GHz. Portable devices that transmit at frequencies above 6 GHz shall be 
evaluated in terms of the MPE limits specified in Table 1 to Sec.  
1.1310(e)(1) of this chapter. A minimum separation distance applicable 
to the operating configurations and exposure conditions of the device 
shall be used for the evaluation. In general, maximum time-averaged 
power levels must be used for evaluation. All unlicensed personal 
communications service (PCS) devices and unlicensed NII devices shall 
be subject to the limits for general population/uncontrolled exposure.
    (2) Evaluation of compliance with the SAR limits can be 
demonstrated by either laboratory measurement techniques or by 
computational modeling. The latter must be supported by adequate 
documentation showing that the numerical method as implemented in the 
computational software has been fully validated; in addition, the 
equipment under test and exposure conditions must be modeled according 
to protocols established by FCC-accepted numerical computation 
standards or available FCC procedures for the specific computational 
method. Guidance regarding SAR measurement techniques can be found in 
the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) Laboratory Division 
Knowledge Database (KDB). The staff guidance provided in the KDB does 
not necessarily represent the only acceptable methods for measuring RF 
exposure or RF emissions, and is not binding on the Commission or any 
interested party.
    (3) For purposes of analyzing portable RF sources under the 
occupational/controlled SAR criteria specified in Sec.  1.1310 of this 
chapter, time averaging provisions of the limits may be used in 
conjunction with the maximum duty factor to determine maximum time-
averaged exposure levels under normal operating conditions.
    (4) The time averaging provisions for occupational/controlled SAR 
criteria, based on maximum duty factor, may not be used in determining 
typical exposure levels for portable devices intended for use by 
consumers, such as cellular telephones, that are considered to operate 
in general population/uncontrolled environments as defined in Sec.  
1.1310 of this chapter. However, ``source-based'' time averaging based 
on an inherent property of the RF source is allowed over a time period 
not to exceed 30 minutes. An example of this would be the determination 
of exposure from a device that uses digital technology such as a time-
division multiple-access (TDMA) scheme for transmission of a signal.
    (5) Visual advisories (such as labeling, embossing, or on an 
equivalent electronic display) on portable devices designed only for 
occupational use can be used as part of an applicant's evidence of the 
device user's awareness of occupational/controlled exposure limits. 
Such visual advisories shall be legible and clearly visible to the user 
from the exterior of the device. Visual advisories must indicate that 
the device is for occupational use only, refer the user to specific 
information on RF exposure, such as that provided in a user manual and 
note that the advisory and its information is required for FCC RF 
exposure compliance. Such instructional material must provide users 
with information on how to use

[[Page 18149]]

the device and to ensure users are fully aware of and able to exercise 
control over their exposure to satisfy compliance with the 
occupational/controlled exposure limits. A sample of the visual 
advisory, illustrating its location on the device, and any 
instructional material intended to accompany the device when marketed, 
shall be filed with the Commission along with the application for 
equipment authorization. Details of any special training requirements 
pertinent to mitigating and limiting RF exposure should also be 
submitted. Holders of grants for portable devices to be used in 
occupational settings are encouraged, but not required, to coordinate 
with end-user organizations to ensure appropriate RF safety training.
    (6) General population/uncontrolled exposure limits defined in 
Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter apply to portable devices intended for use 
by consumers or persons who are exposed as a consequence of their 
employment and may not be fully aware of the potential for exposure or 
cannot exercise control over their exposure. No communication with the 
consumer including either visual advisories or manual instructions will 
be considered sufficient to allow consumer portable devices to be 
evaluated subject to limits for occupational/controlled exposure 
specified in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter.

PART 15--RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES

0
9. The authority citation for part 15 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 302a, 303, 304, 307, 336, 544a, 549.


0
10. Section 15.212 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1)(viii) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  15.212  Modular transmitters.

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (viii) Radio frequency devices operating under the provisions of 
this part are subject to the radio frequency radiation exposure 
requirements specified in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 1.1310, 2.1091, and 
2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. Applications for equipment 
authorization of modular transmitters under this section must contain a 
statement confirming compliance with these requirements. The modular 
transmitter must comply with any applicable RF exposure requirements in 
its final configuration. Technical information showing the basis for 
this statement must be submitted to the Commission upon request.
* * * * *

0
11. Section 15.247 is amended by designating the note following 
paragraph (h) as ``note to paragraph (h)'' and by revising paragraph 
(i).
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  15.247  Operation within the bands 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, 
and 5725-5850 MHz.

* * * * *
    (i) Radio frequency devices operating under the provisions of this 
part are subject to the radio frequency radiation exposure requirements 
specified in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 1.1310, 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this 
chapter, as appropriate. Applications for equipment authorization of 
mobile or portable devices operating under this section must contain a 
statement confirming compliance with these requirements. Technical 
information showing the basis for this statement must be submitted to 
the Commission upon request.

0
12. Section 15.255 is amended by revising paragraph (g) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  15.255  Operation within the band 57-71 GHz.

* * * * *
    (g) Radio frequency devices operating under the provisions of this 
part are subject to the radio frequency radiation exposure requirements 
specified in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 1.1310, 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this 
chapter, as appropriate. Applications for equipment authorization of 
mobile or portable devices operating under this section must contain a 
statement confirming compliance with these requirements. Technical 
information showing the basis for this statement must be submitted to 
the Commission upon request.
* * * * *

0
13. Section 15.257 is amended by revising paragraph (g) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  15.257  Operation within the band 92-95 GHz.

* * * * *
    (g) Radio frequency devices operating under the provisions of this 
part are subject to the radio frequency radiation exposure requirements 
specified in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 1.1310, 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this 
chapter, as appropriate. Applications for equipment authorization of 
mobile or portable devices operating under this section must contain a 
statement confirming compliance with these requirements. Technical 
information showing the basis for this statement must be submitted to 
the Commission upon request.
* * * * *

0
14. Section 15.319 is amended by revising paragraph (i) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  15.319  General technical requirements.

* * * * *
    (i) Radio frequency devices operating under the provisions of this 
part are subject to the radio frequency radiation exposure requirements 
specified in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 1.1310, 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this 
chapter, as appropriate. All equipment shall be considered to operate 
in a ``general population/uncontrolled'' environment. Applications for 
equipment authorization of mobile or portable devices operating under 
this section must contain a statement confirming compliance with these 
requirements. Technical information showing the basis for this 
statement must be submitted to the Commission upon request.

0
15. Section 15.407 is amended by revising paragraph (f) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  15.407  General technical requirements.

* * * * *
    (f) Radio frequency devices operating under the provisions of this 
part are subject to the radio frequency radiation exposure requirements 
specified in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 1.1310, 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this 
chapter, as appropriate. All equipment shall be considered to operate 
in a ``general population/uncontrolled'' environment. Applications for 
equipment authorization of mobile or portable devices operating under 
this section must contain a statement confirming compliance with these 
requirements. Technical information showing the basis for this 
statement must be submitted to the Commission upon request.
* * * * *

0
16. Section 15.709 is amended by revising paragraph (h) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  15.709  General technical requirements.

* * * * *
    (h) Compliance with radio frequency exposure requirements. White 
space devices shall ensure compliance with the Commission's radio 
frequency exposure requirements in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 2.1091 and 
2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. Applications for equipment 
authorization of RF sources under this section must contain a statement 
confirming compliance with these requirements. Technical information 
showing the basis for this statement must be submitted to the 
Commission upon request.

[[Page 18150]]

PART 18--INDUSTRIAL, SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

0
17. The authority citation for part 18 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  4, 301, 302, 303, 304, 307.


0
18. Section 18.313 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  18.313  Radio frequency exposure requirements.

    Radio frequency devices operating under the provisions of this part 
are subject to the radio frequency radiation exposure requirements 
specified in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 1.1310, 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this 
chapter, as appropriate.

PART 22--PUBLIC MOBILE SERVICES

0
19. The authority citation for part 22 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 222, 303, 309, and 332.


0
20. Section 22.379 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  22.379  RF exposure.

    Licensees and manufacturers shall ensure compliance with the 
Commission's radio frequency exposure requirements in Sec. Sec.  
1.1307(b), 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. 
Applications for equipment authorization of mobile or portable devices 
operating under this section must contain a statement confirming 
compliance with these requirements. Technical information showing the 
basis for this statement must be submitted to the Commission upon 
request.

PART 24--PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

0
21. The authority citation for part 24 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 301, 302, 303, 309 and 332.


Sec.  24.51  [Amended]

0
22. Section 24.51 is amended by removing paragraph (c).

0
23. Section 24.52 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  24.52  RF exposure.

    Licensees and manufacturers shall ensure compliance with the 
Commission's radio frequency exposure requirements in Sec. Sec.  
1.1307(b), 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. 
Applications for equipment authorization of mobile or portable devices 
operating under this section must contain a statement confirming 
compliance with these requirements. Technical information showing the 
basis for this statement must be submitted to the Commission upon 
request.

PART 25--SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

0
24. The authority citation for part 25 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 301, 302, 303, 307, 309, 310, 319, 
332, 605, and 721, unless otherwise noted.


0
25. Section 25.115 is amended by adding reserved paragraph (o) and 
adding paragraph (p) to read as follows:


Sec.  25.115  Application for earth station authorizations.

* * * * *
    (p) The licensee and grantees shall ensure compliance with the 
Commission's radio frequency exposure requirements in Sec. Sec.  
1.1307(b), 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. An 
Environmental Assessment may be required if RF radiation from the 
proposed facilities would, in combination with radiation from other 
sources, cause RF power density or field strength in an accessible area 
to exceed the applicable limits specified in Sec.  1.1310 of this 
chapter. See Sec.  1.1307(b)(5)(ii).

0
26. Section 25.117 is amended by revising paragraph (g) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  25.117  Modification of station license.

* * * * *
    (g) The licensee and grantees shall ensure compliance with the 
Commission's radio frequency exposure requirements in Sec. Sec.  
1.1307(b), 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. An 
Environmental Assessment may be required if RF radiation from the 
proposed facilities would, in combination with radiation from other 
sources, cause RF power density or field strength in an accessible area 
to exceed the applicable limits specified in Sec.  1.1310 of this 
chapter. See Sec.  1.1307(b)(5)(iii).
* * * * *

0
27. Section 25.129 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  25.129  Equipment authorization for portable earth-station 
transceivers.

* * * * *
    (c) In addition to the information required by Sec.  2.1033(c) of 
this chapter, applicants for certification required by this section 
shall submit any additional equipment test data necessary to 
demonstrate compliance with pertinent standards for transmitter 
performance prescribed in Sec. Sec.  25.138, 25.202(f), 25.204, 25.209, 
and 25.216, must demonstrate compliance with the labeling requirement 
in Sec.  25.285(b), and shall ensure compliance with the Commission's 
radio frequency exposure requirements in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 2.1091, 
and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. An Environmental Assessment 
may be required if RF radiation from the proposed facilities would, in 
combination with radiation from other sources, cause RF power density 
or field strength in an accessible area to exceed the applicable limits 
specified in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter. Applications for equipment 
authorization of mobile or portable devices operating under this 
section must contain a statement confirming compliance with these 
requirements. Technical information showing the basis for this 
statement must be submitted to the Commission upon request.
* * * * *

0
28. Section 25.149 is amended by revising paragraph (c)(3) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  25.149  Application requirements for ancillary terrestrial 
components in Mobile-Satellite Service networks operating in the 1.5/
1.6 GHz and 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) Licensees and manufacturers shall ensure compliance with the 
Commission's radio frequency exposure requirements in Sec. Sec.  
1.1307(b), 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. An 
Environmental Assessment may be required if RF radiation from the 
proposed facilities would, in combination with radiation from other 
sources, cause RF power density or field strength in an accessible area 
to exceed the applicable limits specified in Sec.  1.1310 of this 
chapter. Applications for equipment authorization of mobile or portable 
devices operating under this section must contain a statement 
confirming compliance with these requirements. Technical information 
showing the basis for this statement must be submitted to the 
Commission upon request.
* * * * *

0
29. Section 25.271 is amended by revising paragraph (g) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  25.271  Control of transmitting stations.

* * * * *
    (g) All applicants shall ensure compliance with the Commission's 
radio frequency exposure requirements in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 2.1091, 
and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. Applicants with terminals 
that will exceed the guidelines in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter for

[[Page 18151]]

radio frequency radiation exposure shall provide a plan for mitigation 
of radiation exposure to the extent required to meet those guidelines. 
Licensees of transmitting earth stations are prohibited from using 
remote earth stations in their networks that are not designed to stop 
transmission when synchronization to signals from the target satellite 
fails.

PART 27--MISCELLANEOUS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

0
30. The authority citation for part 27 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 301, 302a, 303, 307, 309, 332, 336, 
337, 1403, 1404, 1451, and 1452, unless otherwise noted.


0
31. Section 27.52 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  27.52  RF exposure.

    Licensees and manufacturers shall ensure compliance with the 
Commission's radio frequency exposure requirements in Sec. Sec.  
1.1307(b), 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. 
Applications for equipment authorization of mobile or portable devices 
operating under this section must contain a statement confirming 
compliance with these requirements. Technical information showing the 
basis for this statement must be submitted to the Commission upon 
request.

PART 73--RADIO BROADCAST SERVICES

0
32. The authority citation for part 73 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 155, 301, 303, 307, 309, 310, 334, 
336, 339.


0
33. Section 73.404 is amended by revising paragraph (e)(10) to read as 
follows:
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (10) Licensees and permittees shall ensure compliance with the 
Commission's radio frequency exposure requirements in Sec.  1.1307(b) 
of this chapter. An Environmental Assessment may be required if RF 
radiation from the proposed facilities would, in combination with 
radiation from other sources, cause RF power density or field strength 
in an accessible area to exceed the applicable limits specified in 
Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter.

PART 90--PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES

0
34. The authority citation for part 90 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154(i), 161, 303(g), 303(r), 332(c)(7), 
1401-1473.


0
35. Section 90.223 is added to subpart I to read as follows:


Sec.  90.223  RF exposure.

    Licensees and manufacturers shall ensure compliance with the 
Commission's radio frequency exposure requirements in Sec. Sec.  
1.1307(b), 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. 
Applications for equipment authorization of mobile or portable devices 
operating under this section must contain a statement confirming 
compliance with these requirements. Technical information showing the 
basis for this statement must be submitted to the Commission upon 
request.


Sec.  90.1217  [Removed]

0
36. Section 90.1217 is removed.

PART 95--PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES

0
37. The authority citation for part 95 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 307.


0
38. Section 95.2385 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  95.2385  WMTS RF exposure evaluation.

    Mobile and portable devices as defined in Sec. Sec.  2.1091(b) and 
2.1093(b) of this chapter operating in the WMTS are subject to radio 
frequency radiation exposure requirements as specified in Sec. Sec.  
1.1307(b), 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate. 
Applications for equipment authorization of WMTS devices must contain a 
statement confirming compliance with these requirements. Technical 
information showing the basis for this statement must be submitted to 
the Commission upon request.

0
39. Section 95.2585 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  95.2585  MedRadio RF exposure evaluation.

    A MedRadio medical implant device or medical body-worn transmitter 
is subject to the radiofrequency radiation exposure requirements 
specified in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b) and 2.1093 of this chapter, as 
appropriate. Applications for equipment authorization of devices 
operating under this section must demonstrate compliance with these 
requirements using either computational modeling or laboratory 
measurement techniques. Where a showing is based on computational 
modeling, the Commission retains the discretion to request that 
supporting documentation and/or specific absorption rate (SAR) 
measurement data be submitted, as described in Sec.  2.1093(d)(1) of 
this chapter.

PART 97--AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE

0
40. The authority citation for part 97 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 151-155, 301-609, unless otherwise noted.


0
41. Section 97.13 is amended by revising paragraph (c)(1) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  97.13  Restrictions on station location.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) The licensee shall ensure compliance with the Commission's 
radio frequency exposure requirements in Sec. Sec.  1.1307(b), 2.1091, 
and 2.1093 of this chapter, where applicable. In lieu of evaluation 
with the general population/uncontrolled exposure limits, amateur 
licensees may evaluate their operation with respect to members of his 
or her immediate household using the occupational/controlled exposure 
limits in Sec.  1.1310, provided appropriate training and information 
has been accessed by the amateur licensee and members of his/her 
household. RF exposure of other nearby persons who are not members of 
the amateur licensee's household must be evaluated with respect to the 
general population/uncontrolled exposure limits. Appropriate 
methodologies and guidance for evaluating amateur radio service 
operation is described in the Office of Engineering and Technology 
(OET) Bulletin 65, Supplement B.
* * * * *

PART 101--FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICE

0
42. The authority citation for part 101 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 303.


0
43. Section 101.1425 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  101.1425  RF exposure.

    MVDDS stations in the 12.2-12.7 GHz frequency band shall ensure 
compliance with the Commission's radio frequency exposure requirements 
in Sec.  1.1307(b) of this chapter. An Environmental Assessment may be 
required if RF radiation from the proposed facilities would, in 
combination with radiation from other sources, cause RF power density 
or field strength in an accessible area to exceed the applicable limits 
specified in Sec.  1.1310 of this chapter.

[FR Doc. 2020-02745 Filed 3-31-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P