User's Manual

69
This publication is available at http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety or through the FCC at (888) 225-
5322 or (888) CALL-FCC.
What does “SAR” mean?
In 1996, the FCC, working with the FDA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other
agencies, established RF exposure safety guidelines for wireless phones in the United States.
Before a wireless phone model is available for sale to the public, it must be tested by the
manufacturer and certified to the FCC that it does not exceed limits established by the FCC. One
of these limits is expressed as a Specific Absorption Rate, or “SAR.” SAR is a measure of the rate
of absorption of RF energy in the body. Tests for SAR are conducted with the phone transmitting
at its highest power level in all tested frequency bands. Since 1996, the FCC has required that the
SAR of handheld wireless phones not exceed 1.6 watts per kilogram, averaged over one gram of
tissue.
Although the SAR is determined at the highest power level, the actual SAR value of a wireless
phone while operating can be less than the reported SAR value. This is because the SAR value
may vary from call to call, depending on factors such as proximity to a cell site, the proximity of
the phone to the body while in use, and the use of hands-free devices.
For more information about SARs, see the FCC’s OET Bulletins 56 and 65 at http://www.fcc.gov/
Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins or visit the Cellular Telecommunications
Industry Association website at http://www.ctia.org/consumer_info/index.cfm/AID/10371. You may
also wish to contact the manufacturer of your phone.
Can I minimize my RF exposure?
If you are concerned about RF, there are several simple steps you can take to minimize your RF
exposure. You can, of course, reduce your talk time. You can place more distance between your
body and the source of the RF, as the exposure level drops off dramatically with distance. The
FDA/FCC website states that “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 part of 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.” Also, if you use your wireless
phone while in a car, you can use a phone with an antenna on the outside of the vehicle. You