US FCC Wireless Radiation Rules Survive Supreme Court Appeal

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

US FCC Wireless Radiation Rules Survive Supreme Court Appeal
  
Washington, Jan. 8 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Supreme Court refused to 
revive accusations that the Federal Communications Commission isn't 
doing enough to protect people from radiation emitted by wireless 
telecommunications towers. 

The justices, without comment, rejected four appeals by individuals 
and citizens groups that say radio frequency radiation can cause 
health problems. 

The groups tried to force the federal government to adopt stricter 
standards for telecommunications facilities. One of the appeals also 
sought more authority for local regulators to make decisions on tower 
placement. 

The high court decision leaves intact a ruling by a New York- based 
federal appeals court, which sided with the FCC almost a year ago on 
a 3-0 vote. 

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the agency acted 
reasonably in setting maximum exposure levels nationwide. The court 
also left intact an FCC rule that exempts some low-risk facilities 
from having to file statements certifying environmental compliance. 

One of the groups, Citizens for the Appropriate Placement of 
Telecommunications Facilities, pointed in its appeal to new research 
from Europe and Australia that ``has shown that cell phone 
frequencies may cause biological harm.'' The group represents 
residents of Charlotte, Vermont. 

The FCC said it was following Congress' mandate to foster the rapid 
growth of wireless services. In a court filing, the agency cited a 
``trade-off'' between that goal and health considerations. 

``Congress has entrusted to the FCC the process of striking the 
appropriate balance, a subject squarely within the agency's 
expertise,'' the government argued. 

The cases are Citizens for the Appropriate Placement of 
Telecommunications Facilities v. FCC, 00-393; Fichtenberg v. FCC, 00-
407; Worsham v. FCC, 00-417; and Cellular Phone Taskforce v. FCC, 00-
427. 

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Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
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Personal Website: http://sandyfl.nukeworker.net
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