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Two factors make broadcast sources different from other _ ing these transmitters constitute a public health hazard, it may be sources of electromagnetic fields. One is that they use the electro- _in the public interest, healthwise, for the electromagnetic spectrum magnetic spectrum, which in the USA legally belongs to the pub- _to remain largely unused! This would call for a radical change in lic, and they therefore must be licensed to transmit—that is, they the way the US Federal Communications Commission operates, must have government permission to emit a signal. Supposedly since it is the agency that licenses transmitters. the government is acting in the public interest when a licence is Right now, of course, the existence of a hazard to health from issued, allowing a transmitter to go ‘on the air’. Presumably the _ broadcast electromagnetic fields is uncertain. We strongly suspect government would withhold the licence if the transmitter were there may be a cancer hazard, but we are not absolutely sure. unsafe. What should we do under these conditions of uncertainty? The other difference is that everybody in the vicinity of the The logical thing to do is to declare a moratorium on licensing transmitter is exposed to the electromagnetic field it generates, but new broadcast stations or enlarging the operations of existing sta- only those individuals who are listening to radios or TV sets tuned _ tions until this question is resolved. That way we can at least stop to the broadcasting station are a the situation from getting worse. But receiving a benefit from the trans- right now our government is doing mission. Therefore, this is a situa- : the exact opposite! It is opening up tion where everyone in a given geo- Up until now, the new portions of the electromagnetic taphic area is exposed in order that . spectrum and running lotteries to allo- — . electromagnetic spectrum has 7 at a few may benefit. cate the frequencies. It is allocating If the ae is of public been regarded asa useful = spectrum to existing users. : value—police radio transmissions or . e are in a situation right now that an emergency announcement wam- economic resource. is similar to the 1920s: there is a ing of an approaching tornado, hurri- The assumption has been that rapid expansion of new broadcast cane or tsunami—it is reasonable to se sources in the radio-frequency region presume that everyone benefits from unused spectrum is a waste of of the spectrum. If past history is any the transmission. But much of what resources. guide, we can expect the incidence of is broadcast today over commercial certain diseases (including cancers) in TV and radio is purely entertain- the population to increase in the near ment. What are the ethics of amus- future as a consequence. ing some people at the expense of other Supposedly our government serves people's health—all so that some third party may profit? the public. If you don't like what your government is doing on If there truly is a serious hazard to the public health associated your behalf, express yourself! If you keep silent and do not let with proximity to broadcast transmitters—and at present there is your government hear from you, it will just keep on doing what it no conclusive proof of this, although there is strongly suggestive is doing now: issuing licences to allow ever-increasing numbers evidence over a range of frequencies—then the principles that —_ of transmitters to operate—transmitters that may be slowly killing govern the licensing of broadcast transmitters need to be scruti- us by promoting the development of cancer and other chronic dis- nised very carcfully and possibly revised. cases. Do we really want our government generating revenue by Up until now, the electromagnetic spectrum has been regarded _ issuing licences to kill? eo as a useful economic resource. The assump- tion has been that unused spectrum is a waste of resources, like land that is not being cultivated to grow crops, or money that is E stuffed mie shee instead of earning Beac es forthe Deaf wa co a “sy <= interest in a bank. Therefore the federal gov- el pe ee oe Cc >) emment has felt it to be in the public interest to encourage the use of the electromagnetic spectrum, and has established its policies accordingly. In the spring of 1994, the US Congress was considering legislation to transfer unused spectrum from the federal govern- ment to the private sector—and Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, who is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, was leading the fight! The rapid growth in the use of cellular telephones and mobile radio is bringing in revenue to the govern- ment (in the form of licence fees) and also stimulating the economy, so the government is currently encouraging expanded use of the electromagnetic spectrum. But if the electromagnetic fields surround- Te a tee Up until now, the electromagnetic spectrum has been regarded as a useful economic resource. The assumption has been that unused spectrum is a waste of resources. ee ne ee Beaches forthe Deaf Ee ——- AS NEXUS ¢ 39 OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 1995