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Section 4A: Safety 151
you will see instructions for entering the FCC ID number. Type the FCC ID number
exactly as requested (the Grantee Code is the first three characters, the Equipment
Product Code is the rest of the FCC ID number). Then click on “Start Search.”The
“Grant of Equipment Authorization”for your telephone should appear. Read through
the grant for the section on “SAR Compliance,”“Certification of Compliance with FCC
Rules for RF Exposure”or similar language. This section should contain the value(s)
for typical or maximum SAR for your phone.
Phones and other products authorized since June 2, 2000, should have the
maximum SAR levels noted directly on the “Grant of Equipment Authorization.”For
phones and products authorized between about mid-1998 and June 2000, detailed
information on SAR levels is typically found in the exhibits associated with the grant.
Once a grant is accessed, the exhibits can be viewed by clicking on “View Exhibit.”
Grants authorized prior to 1998 are not partof the electronic database but, rather,
have been documented in the form of paper records.
The FCC database does not list phones by model number. However, consumers may
find SAR information from other sources as well. Some wireless phone
manufacturers make SAR information available on their own Web sites. In addition,
some non-governmentWeb sites provide SARs for specific models of wireless
phones. However, the FCC has not reviewed these sites and makes no guarantees of
their accuracy. Finally, phones certified by the Cellular Telecommunications and
Internet Association (CTIA) are required to provide SAR information to consumers in
the instructional materials that come with the phones.
Do hands-free kits for wireless phones reduce risks from exposure to
RF emissions?
Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from wireless phones,
there is no reason to believe that hands-free kits reduce risks. Hands-free kits can be
used with wireless phones for convenience and comfort. These systems reduce the
absorption of RF energy in the head because the phone, which is the source of the RF
emissions, will not be placed against the head. On the other hand, if the phone is
mounted against the waist or other partof the body during use, then that part of the
body will absorb more RF energy. Wireless phones marketed in the U.S. are required
to meet safety requirements regardless of whether they are used against the head
or against the body. Either configuration should result in compliance with the
safety limit.
Do wireless phone accessories that claim to shield the head from RF
radiation work?
Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from wireless phones,
there is no reason to believe that accessories that claim to shield the head from
those emissions reduce risks. Some products that claim to shield the user from RF
absorption use special phone cases, while others involve nothing more than a
metallic accessory attached to the phone. Studies have shown that these products
generally do not work as advertised. Unlike “hand-free”kits, these so-called
“shields”may interfere with proper operation of the phone. The phone may be forced
to boost its power to compensate, leading to an increase in RF absorption. In