Court Demands FCC Reconsider Its Wireless Safety Standards

After dismissing evidence of potential harm during a public inquiry, FCC must now address the concerns

The wireless industry and its regulators have long maintained that wireless technology is without risk, but a recent ruling is forcing the FCC to address emerging and substantial evidence of harmful effects. New Africa/Shutterstock

Smartphones, and the wireless frequency that runs them, have revolutionized the way we live. But are they as safe as we are told? A federal court ruled that regulators must reconsider the nation’s wireless safety standard due to extensive evidence of harm.

Since 1996—back when cellphones were rare and brick-sized—the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deemed that exposure to the non-ionizing radiation emitted from wireless devices caused no health issues.