Radio Frequencies: Licensing

(asked on 20th July 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether Ofcom's proposal to require compliance with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) 2020 Guidelines in its wireless telephony licences would require licensees keep records based on the (a) levels and (b) methodologies of those guidelines; and what comparative assessment he has made of the consistency of (a) levels and (b) methodologies in those guidelines and the requirements of The Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016.


Answered by
Matt Warman Portrait
Matt Warman
This question was answered on 28th July 2020

Ofcom’s consultation proposed that licensees would need to keep records showing how they have demonstrated compliance with the general public exposure limits in the ICNIRP Guidelines. It recommended that they use methods from recognised standards to demonstrate compliance.

The Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations (CEMFAW) 2016 requires employers to assess the risks of EMF exposure in the workplace exceeding the occupational exposure limits in the ICNIRP Guidelines. Ofcom is aware of CEMFAW and their proposed EMF compliance arrangements are not intended to overlap with requirements under CEMFAW. Ofcom will further clarify the exact scope of its proposals in its Statement following consultation and is satisfied that its proposals will not overlap or otherwise be inconsistent with requirements under CEMFAW.

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