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ARLB102 FCC Delays New RF-Exposure Rules

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ARRL Bulletin 102  ARLB102
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  December 24, 1996
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB102
ARLB102 FCC Delays New RF-Exposure Rules

FCC Delays New RF-Exposure Rules

Just in time for Christmas, the FCC has postponed the date for hams
to comply with the new RF-exposure regulations from January 1, 1997,
to January 1, 1998.  The ARRL was among those requesting the delay.
The League said that the additional time was needed for the FCC to
draft implementation guidelines and for amateurs to use them to
comply with the regulations (released on August 1, 1996 as ET Docket
93-62).

FCC Report No. DC 96-112 announced the amendment of the rules to
extend the transition period for licensees to determine compliance
with the new bioeffects requirements for RF transmitters.  The
League obtained a copy of the report just before noon on Christmas
Eve.

The time extension to January 1, 1998, will allow changes to Amateur
Radio operator examinations to be made along with routine revisions
between now and July 1, 1998, rather than requiring hurried special
revisions.  Among the reasons for requesting the extension was the
desire to permit licensees to make a more orderly entrance into this
new area, to allow time for information to be promulgated to hams to
ensure that they have the information at their disposal to comply
with the new rules, and to allow time for appropriate questions to
be inserted into the question pools for the various amateur license
exams.

In Report No. DC 96-112, the FCC said it disagreed with those
petitioners who suggested that the time extension ''will have
significant adverse effects on public health.''  The entire text of
Report DC 96-112 may be found on the ARRLWeb at
http://www.arrl.org/fcc/dc96-112.html (or click on What's New or RF
Safety News).

And, to all, a good night.
NNNN
/EX