New Developments in Radiofrequency Radiation: HHS, FCC and ANSES

On September 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking evidence and information on electromagnetic fields (EMFs), radiofrequency (RF) radiation and wireless radiation exposure, particularly in relation to human health. The RFI is intended to help HHS evaluate the state of the science, compare U.S. and international safety standards and regulatory approaches, identify research gaps and inform future research and policy.

EMFSA | 20 September 2026

The RFI invites contributions from researchers, clinicians, public-health professionals, industry, advocacy groups and members of the public.

The Federal Register will publish the notice on September 21, 2026.

Comments must be submitted within 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

What is HHS asking?

The questions cover a wide range of issues, including reported health effects, exposure standards and risk assessment, methods for measuring real-world exposure, potentially sensitive populations, cumulative exposure from existing and emerging wireless technologies, and priorities for future research.

• What does the evidence show? HHS seeks evidence on potential adverse health effects associated with RF exposure. This includes exposure below current federal exposure limits. HHS also seeks evidence on possible environmental effects. The RFI asks how technologies such as 5G, 6G, Wi-Fi, satellite communications, IoT, wearables, smart homes and wireless medical devices may contribute to cumulative exposure.
• How to assess exposure? The RFI asks how researchers can characterise individual and population exposure and better reflect real-world conditions. It also asks which technical and exposure-related information manufacturers and other relevant parties should disclose to consumers, residents, workers, schools, healthcare providers and local governments.
• Are current standards and risk-assessment methods adequate? HHS asks respondents to identify relevant national and international exposure standards and to consider whether scientific, technical or regulatory changes could improve exposure assessment and regulation. It specifically raises characteristics such as frequency, power density, SAR, electric- and magnetic-field strength, modulation, pulse characteristics, duty cycle, beamforming, simultaneous exposure to multiple frequencies, duration, distance, proximity to the body and cumulative exposure.
• Should researchers consider particular populations separately? The RFI asks whether exposure assessment or risk evaluation should differ for children, pregnant women, older adults, people with implanted medical devices, workers with elevated occupational exposure and people with pre-existing medical conditions.
• What should be studied next? HHS asks respondents to identify the highest-priority research gaps and how federal agencies, including the FDA, NIH and CDC, could improve coordination of RF/EMF research.

The RFI also invites individuals and families to share experiences they believe may be associated with RF/EMF exposure, including the source, duration and timing of exposure, reported effects, changes in exposure, and any supporting documentation.

HHS separately invites clinicians, researchers and public-health practitioners to describe observations that could help identify patterns for further study. 

More information about the HHS RFI 

HHS press release: HHS Seeks Public Input on Electromagnetic Fields and Wireless Radiation

Federal Register notice (PDF): Request for Information on Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and Wireless Radiation Exposure

FCC context 

The HHS RFI does not specifically name the FCC in its questions about federal research coordination. The FCC, however, has separately opened a proceeding on RF-exposure issues related to the D.C. Circuit’s 2021 remand.

1. 2019: The FCC decided to retain its existing RF exposure limits rather than initiate a rulemaking to modify them.
2. 2021: The D.C. Circuit remanded the matter to the FCC, finding that the agency had not adequately explained its conclusions concerning several non-cancer health and environmental issues.
3. May 2026: petitioners filed a petition seeking to compel the FCC and FDA to comply with the 2021 remand.
4. August 26, 2026: the court ordered the FCC to respond to the petition, giving it 30 days to address the issues raised concerning compliance with the remand.
5. September 17, 2026: the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on the RF exposure issues subject to the D.C. Circuit remand: FCC Public Notice DA 26-997 — RF Exposure Issues Subject to D.C. Circuit Remand

What does the FCC want commenters to examine?

• whether studies are methodologically rigorous and directly relevant to the issues remanded by the court;
• whether findings have been replicated;
• whether studies provide longitudinal evidence of non-cancer health effects or environmental effects;
• whether epidemiological studies account for widespread and long-term cellphone use;
• whether proposed biological mechanisms or markers actually demonstrate adverse health effects;
• whether studies distinguish correlation from causation;
• whether literature reviews assess the weight of scientific evidence;
• whether researchers use properly calibrated instruments, accepted exposure-assessment methods and adequate dosimetry;
• whether studies establish dose-response relationships and substantiate adverse health effects in humans at exposure levels below FCC limits;
• whether studies adequately address confounding, controls, blinding, sample size and representativeness; and
• whether laboratory or animal findings can reasonably be related to real-world U.S. exposures and human health.

The HHS RFI and the FCC proceeding address different aspects of the ongoing U.S. discussion of RF exposure and health. France’s ANSES has also launched a separate initiative, focused specifically on funding new research.

ANSES 2026 Research Programme: Radiofrequencies and Health — Call for Proposals

Extract only — see the full call for proposals in the PDF below.

• Deadline for submitting letters of intent: 1 October 2026 at noon. 
• Deadline for submitting complete applications: 11 March 2027 at noon.

Who can apply: All research teams, including international partners.
Requirement: One French academic partner

Two research calls are planned for 2027:

“Radiofrequencies and health”, and a second call covering a wide range of environmental and occupational health topics, excluding radiofrequencies.

ANSES places strong emphasis on methodological quality, particularly because the research may contribute to future expert assessments. The agency also prioritises research that policymakers could apply relatively quickly.

Scope of the Radiofrequency Research Call

The call focuses on the effects of radiofrequencies in the range from 8.3 kHz to 300 GHz.

For projects on electromagnetic hypersensitivity, researchers may consider a broader frequency range extending to lower frequencies. The call permits this broader range where it may help researchers understand the phenomenon.
The effects of electromagnetic fields can be studied for these fields alone or in combination with a cofactor.

Besides signals associated with current exposure, the call invites researchers to study new sources of exposure and associated signals. These include connected objects, 5G and satellite technologies, wireless energy transfer, and the various modulations used for mobile communication.

ANNEX 1: Research Questions

• Research on mechanisms of action of radiofrequencies at the molecular and cellular levels
• Research into the physiological or health effects of radiofrequencies
• Electromagnetic hypersensitivity / idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields
• Characterisation of exposure

Source: National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health “Radiofrequencies and Health” 2026 Call for Proposals — ANSES
https://www.anses.fr/sites/default/files/GB-Texte_APREST_2026-RF.pdf

Neither the HHS RFI nor the ANSES research call represents a finding that current RF exposure standards are inadequate or that wireless technologies have been shown to cause specific health effects. They do, however, demonstrate that questions concerning RF exposure, health, exposure assessment and emerging wireless technologies remain active areas of government-supported evidence gathering and research. 

Related EMFSA Newsletter

For additional background and recent developments, see our Wireless Health & Environmental Safety August 2026 – EMFSA newsletter.

AI Assistance

AI tools were used in the preparation of this article for language editing, formatting, editorial assistance and research-support tasks. The author provided the subject matter, source material and editorial direction, and reviewed the information and factual claims. The final article was reviewed and approved by the author, who remains responsible for its accuracy, interpretation and presentation.

Image: Generated with Lumo AI (Proton). 

The post Electromagnetic Fields and Radiofrequency Radiation: U.S. HHS Seeks Public Input; France Calls for New Research appeared first on EMFSA.

According to OpenSignal, the average mobile user in the US today connects to a millimeter wave (mmWave) 5G network less than 1% of the time. That figure is true for Verizon, which has positioned mmWave 5G at the center of its “ultra wideband” nationwide marketing message for years, as well as T-Mobile, which has made barely a mention of mmWave 5G.

Indeed, the difference between the two companies’ mmWave 5G efforts sounds like a rounding error: According to OpenSignal, Verizon customers connect to a mmWave 5G network 0.7% of the time, while T-Mobile customers connect to a mmWave 5G network 0.2% of the time.

Snippet

OpenSignal obtains its data from software installed in more than 100 million phones around the globe, which send back anonymized usage data to the company on a daily basis. OpenSignal’s latest mmWave 5G report features data collected from March to June, 2021.

“The lie of millimeter wave is dead,” agreed the financial analysts at New Street Research after hearing of Verizon’s latest mmWave buildout targets. After all, a Google study from 2019 indicated it would take roughly 13 million transmitters and $400 billion to deliver 100Mbit/s to 72% of the US population using 5G in mmWave spectrum.

Regardless, mmWave proponents march ever onwards. “The global deployment of 5G mmWave is now inevitable,” proclaimed Qualcomm’s new CEO, Cristiano Amon, in a recent release touting international momentum behind mmWave 5G. Qualcomm hopes to profit from the sale of mmWave chipsets to smartphone makers globally.

Most industry observers believe operations in mmWave spectrum will eventually find a place within a bigger 5G network. For example, mmWave 5G might never cover a standard American neighborhood, but it might be widely available in destinations like restaurants or offices.

But that kind of coverage likely will require new technologies that dramatically cut down the cost of mmWave deployments. And in the meantime, expect most mobile users in the US to remain connected to 5G on lowband and midband spectrum, leaving mmWave connections for an occasional trip to the airport or a football game.

For the full article please see https://www.lightreading.com/5g/the-age-of-mmwave-5g-sputters-to-dusty-death/a/d-id/770838

The post The age of mmWave 5G sputters to a dusty death appeared first on EMFSA.

Source: BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57875322

The US government is investigating a series of health incidents in the Austrian capital Vienna involving its diplomats and other administration staff.

More than 20 officials have reported symptoms similar to Havana Syndrome – a mystery brain illness – since President Joe Biden took office in January.

The syndrome is unexplained, but US scientists say it is most probably caused by directed microwave radiation.

It was first found in Cuba in 2016-17.

US and Canadian diplomats in Havana complained of symptoms ranging from dizziness, loss of balance, hearing loss and anxiety to something they described as “cognitive fog”.

The US accused Cuba of carrying out “sonic attacks”, which it strongly denied, and the incident led to increased tension between the two nations.

A 2019 US academic study found “brain abnormalities” in the diplomats who had fallen ill, but Cuba dismissed the report.

The Vienna cases first came to light in the New Yorker magazine on Friday and were later confirmed by the US State Department, which said it was “vigorously investigating”.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57875322

The post ‘Havana syndrome’-like mystery illness affects Vienna US diplomats appeared first on EMFSA.

Snippet

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has received dozens of  reports of vandalism of communications infrastructure across the country, noting that as the riots rage on, 113 towers have been damaged, and many community radio stations have been looted.

“Such wanton destruction of the broadcasting infrastructure and facilities represents a direct attack on the constitutional right of individuals and communities to access news and information that is accurate, unbiased and up-to-date about the current crisis,” ICASA said in a statement.

US-based American Tower Corporation (ATC) and SBA Communications’ (SBA) structures are potential targets for arsonists and ICASA Chairman Keabetswe Modimoeng warned that “Any disruption of communication services could prove disastrous and result in increased mortality as emergency calls may be directly impacted.”

He said he expects the number of towers that have been vandalized to increase as the country tries to stop the growing number of looters and arsonists.

“We call on the communities to assist in guarding and protecting this critical infrastructure and to exercise the highest levels of patriotism in this regard,” said Modimoeng.

South Africa has approximately 26,000 towers, with ATC owning about 2,300 towers, according to its website.

SBA has approximately 1,200 sites, the majority of which were acquired in October 2019, with the purchase of 900 sites from Atlas Tower South Africa that had a substantial backlog of new builds.

“It is catastrophic sprees of unrest such as the one ongoing that developing countries struggle to ever recover from, with damaged infrastructure simply left as is without funds or manpower available for repairs,” ICASA said.

The country’s three major towercos are Vodacom, Gyro Group and MTN Group.

MTN is seeking to sell its towers and the company has received requests from 20 towercos and investment firms to provide a leaseback offer. MTN said it is looking to conclude the sale during the third quarter of 2021.

It is not known if the current unrest in the country will lower the estimated $500 to $700 million for the company’s towers, understood to total about 6,000.

The post American Tower and SBA Communications exposed to sabotage during South Africa riots appeared first on EMFSA.

By Samuel Mungadze, Senior news, 10 Dec 2020

American families suing Africa’s biggest telco MTN have filed a fresh application opposing the mobile operator’s motion to dismiss the case.

The families argue the operator “purposefully availed” itself to the US by obtaining funding and insurance guarantees from US-based units of the World Bank.

In the court papers, the plaintiffs argue that for more than a decade, MTN has been integral to the Taliban’s terrorist campaign against Americans in Afghanistan.

The SA-headquartered mobile operator entered the Afghan market in 2006 in the midst of an escalating insurgency, and it soon grew to become the country’s dominant mobile phone provider.

The Americans argue it is this MTN expansion strategy that brought them misery because the mobile operator bought its way into dangerous areas of Afghanistan by paying the Taliban to protect it.

https://www.itweb.co.za/content/DZQ58vVPaBYMzXy2

Business Day: MTN terror financing case now in the hands of US judge

Article is reserved for subscribers:

Legal liabilities could amount to millions of dollars for the telecom group.

14 DECEMBER 2020 – 05:36 WARREN THOMPSON

https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/telecoms-and-technology/2020-12-14-mtn-terror-financing-case-now-in-the-hands-of-us-judge/

More on the topic

The post MTN/Taliban/US lawsuit updates appeared first on EMFSA.

U.S. carriers don’t have the right airwaves or network architecture for widespread 5G use just yet.

By JOHN HENDEL

11/06/2020 09:00 AM EST

The buzz about super-fast 5G wireless service has been building in the U.S. for years. The next White House now stands poised to deliver — at a time when U.S. rivals are also scrambling to light up this next-gen cellular service.

Right now, most Americans have never experienced the eye-popping speeds that big wireless carriers have spent years hyping, promising service that is 100 times faster than 4G speeds. Apple just unveiled its first 5G-capable iPhones in time for holiday shopping. But while CEO Tim Cook played up the big speeds as he stood alongside Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg, the new iPhone’s reviews already state the obvious: 5G isn’t the real selling point.

U.S. carriers don’t have the right airwaves or network architecture to really allow for widespread, robust 5G use just yet, which will be a pressing challenge for whoever occupies the White House — especially as China bursts into the lead in the so-called race to 5G.

“China has cemented its position as a global leader in 5G,” wireless trade group GSMA recently declared, noting that China likely accounts for 70 percent of global 5G connections this year.

Joe Biden may be positioned to change that, should the Democrat win the White House, picking up where President Donald Trump left off. Even in divided government, 5G could prove a source of rare bipartisan unity.

Read more at: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/06/5g-wireless-challenges-white-house-434533

The post The 5G challenges the next White House will inherit appeared first on EMFSA.

Filed: 09/22/2020

Parties.
Petitioners in Case No. 20-1025 are Environmental Health Trust, Consumers for Safe Cell Phones, Elizabeth Barris, and Theodora Scarato.

Petitioners in Case No. 20-1138 are Children’s Health Defense, Michele Hertz, Petra Brokken, Dr. David O. Carpenter, Dr. Toril H. Jelter, Dr. Ann Lee, Virginia Farver, Jennifer Baran, and Paul Stanley, M.Ed.

Respondents are the Federal Communications Commission and the United States of America.

Rulings under review.
The ruling under review is Proposed Changes in the Commission’s Rules Regarding Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields, Resolution of Notice of Inquiry, 34 FCC Rcd 11687 (2019).

https://files.constantcontact.com/7d83326b601/7b2b004e-58ca-4413-9900-b4f25e5a2a3e.pdf

The post FCC Responds to lawsuit appeared first on EMFSA.

By ANDREA NOBLE SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals largely upheld FCC rules limiting local government’s ability to regulate 5G infrastructure and cap fees. Cities involved in the case have until Sept. 28 to file an appeal, but some experts say the ruling wasn’t all bad.

Dozens of cities and counties were on the losing end of a federal court decision last month that largely upheld Federal Communications Commission rules restricting their ability to regulate technology for 5G infrastructure.

Local governments that objected to the rules now have until Sept. 28 to file an appeal for a new hearing before the entire 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals—a step at least some are considering.

“We are speaking with our clients right now about whether or not to do that,” said Gerry Lederer, an attorney with Best, Best and Krieger, who represents the National League of Cities and a coalition of cities and counties in the litigation.

Read more at https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2020/09/after-decision-upholding-fccs-5g-rules-cities-now-weighing-appeal/168658/

The post After Decision Upholding FCC’s 5G Rules, Cities Now Weighing Appeal appeared first on EMFSA.

Eduard Lovin, VP of the National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM), said at an industry conference the planned auction could be pushed back until 2021, reported TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate.

Lovin explained the government had not yet finalised and publish the needed legislation in the official gazette, for which ANCOM must analyse and adjust auction terms if needed. Any changes will be subject to a public consultation which could take up to 30 days.

Snippet

ANCOM previously indicated it would hold an auction in Q1 this year but this was postponed due to a memorandum signed by Romania and the US for the development of safe 5G technologies, to safeguard nations from high–risk suppliers.

Read the full article at https://www.developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation/10011-romania-delays-5g-auction-until-2021.html

The post Romania delays 5G auction until 2021 appeared first on EMFSA.

By RAYTHEON INTELLIGENCE & SPACE on September 14, 2020 at 11:11 PM

To the ancient Greeks, Argus Panoptes was a giant with a thousand eyes who always kept watch, even in his sleep. That constant vigilance resonates with those responsible for keeping the United States and its friends and allies safe. It’s why the U.S. Air Force, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Raytheon Technologies are creating a new space-based blanket of advanced sensors – to keep “eyes always on” in the lookout for potential missile attacks.

“The pace of technology is on a near-exponential curve right now,” said Wallis Laughrey, a vice president of Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a business of Raytheon Technologies. “Our adversaries are testing new weapons that require a new means of detection.”

The challenge is to field those new means quickly. To that end, the Air Force designated Next Gen OPIR – a system of satellites to provide early warning of intercontinental and theater ballistic missile launches – as a Go-Fast program. It replaces the Space-Based Infrared System by providing more survivable and resilient missile warning from geostationary orbit.

The Next Gen OPIR program consists of three GEO and two polar satellites, all of which are expected to be in orbit by 2029.

“Our ability to counter the threat is only as good as our ability to see it,” Laughrey said.

Defense contractor Lockheed Martin turned to Raytheon Technologies to design the payload for its Next Gen OPIR Block 0 resilient missile-warning satellites.

Read more at: https://breakingdefense.com/2020/09/the-eyes-of-argus/

The post The Eyes Of Argus appeared first on EMFSA.