Guidelines for Evaluating the Environmental Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 1

[ET Docket No. 93-62; DA 94-161]

Guidelines for Evaluating the Environmental Effects of

Radiofrequency Radiation

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Chief of the Commission's Office of Engineering and

Technology has granted a 60 day extension for filing reply comments in

response to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). This extension

is in response to a motion filed by the Telecommunications Industry

Association (``TIA''). The additional time will allow for further

analysis with respect to numerous comments already filed that are

relevant to the Commission's implementation of new radiofrequency

exposure guidelines.

DATES: Reply comments are due by April 25, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street NW.,

Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robert Cleveland, Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal

Communications Commission, (202) 653-8169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. On February 15, 1994, the Mobile Communications Division of the

Telecommunications Industry Association (``TIA'') filed with the

Commission a ``Motion for Extension of Time'' in the above-named

proceeding. TIA has requested that the Commission extend, by a period

of 60 days, the time for filing reply comments.

2. The Commission has proposed to incorporate into its rules the

revised standard of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

(IEEE) and designated IEEE C95.1-1991 (also ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992) for

human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields.\1\ The deadline

originally established for filing comments in this proceeding was

August 13, 1993, and the date for reply comments was September 13,

1993.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\See Notice of Proposed Rule Making in ET Docket 93-62, 58 FR

19393 (1993), 8 FCC Rcd 2849 (1993).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Previously, on August 3, 1993, the Commission granted a request

filed by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) for an

extension of time of ninety (90) days for filing comments and reply

comments.\2\ This action established a new deadline for filing comments

of November 12, 1993, and a new deadline for filing reply comments of

December 13, 1993.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\2\See Order Extending Time for Comments and Reply Comments, ET

Docket 93-62, 58 Fed. Reg. 43091 (1993), 8 FCC Rcd 5528 (1993).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Subsequently, on November 2, 1993, CBS, Inc., (``CBS'') and

Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., filed a request to extend the comment and

reply comment deadlines an additional sixty (60) days. The Commission

approved this request changing the deadlines for filing comments and

reply comments to January 11, 1994, and February 10, 1994,

respectively.\3\ On January 3, 1994, CBS filed a request for an

additional 14 day extension. This was also approved resulting in new

dates of January 25, 1994, and February 24, 1994, for comments and

reply comments.\4\

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\3\See Order Extending Comments and Reply Comments, ET Docket

93-62, 58 Fed. Reg. 60827 (November 18, 1993).

\4\See Order Extending Time for Comments and Reply Comments, ET

Docket 93-62, 59 Fed. Reg. 3050 (January 20, 1994).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. The first extension was granted to allow NAB time to complete a

study commissioned to develop non-measurement based techniques for

determining compliance with new guidelines. The second extension was

granted in response to filings by CBS, Capital Cities, and Hammett and

Edison, Inc., noting that new information from the NAB study and other

experimental results relevant to the consequences of the proposed

guidelines had only recently become available. CBS and Capital Cities

maintained that additional time was necessary to consider the

implications of the new data, both to determine whether further study

was required and to assess the effect that the proposed guidelines will

have on broadcast operations.

6. The most recent extension was granted to allow CBS an additional

14 days to perform measurements and to organize and analyze data that

is relevant in considering implementation of new guidelines on RF

induced currents. CBS also requested additional time to facilitate the

filing of a single set of comments representing the views of itself and

several other broadcast entities.

7. The TIA represents manufacturers and suppliers of

telecommunications equipment used primarily in the cellular, private

land-mobile radio, cordless radio and personal communications services.

In the latest request for an extension TIA points out that there have

been over 1200 pages of comments filed with the Commission to date in

this proceeding over the approximately nine-month period that was

ultimately allowed for comments. Therefore, TIA maintains that it would

not be equitable to allow only a thirty-day period in which to evaluate

and respond to these comments, especially in view of the complex nature

of the issues involved.

8. The Commission does not routinely grant requests for extensions

of time.\5\ However, we continue to recognize the complexity of the

issues raised by the new exposure guidelines and the difficulties in

developing reasonable methods by which compliance can be evaluated. We

also agree that the many comments filed in this docket to date require

a more reasonable amount of time for review and response. Therefore,

the request by TIA for a further extension is justified.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\5\47 CFR 1.46 (1991).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Accordingly, It is Ordered that the deadline for filing reply

comments Is Extended to April 25, 1994. This action is taken pursuant

to Sections 4(i) and 303 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,

47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 303, and pursuant to sections 0.31, 0.241 and 1.46

of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 0.31, 0.241 and 1.46.

Federal Communications Commission.

Thomas P. Stanley,

Chief Engineer.

[FR Doc. 94-4218 Filed 2-24-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-M