C H A P T E R 5

WIRELESS: SAFETY NET OR HEALTHHAZARD?

Cell phones, often labeled status symbols, social nui-sances, and even health hazards in the past, are nowseen as necessities and lifesavers by more people sinceSeptember 11, 2001. Verizon says that cell phonecharger and battery sales are up. Some media evenreport wireless sales increasing more than 10%. Yet, aspeople clutch their pocket-sized devices tighter andbegin to install wireless LANs in the workspace, con-cerns about radiation emissions and possible healthproblems still lurk.

The challenge throughout this book is to provide youwith the facts, not the hype. Bottom line, there are nostudies that prove that cell phones cause cancer or otherdiseases in humans. I encourage you to stay alert andinformed on new reports.

Many experts say that the worst wireless danger comesfrom driving and talking at the same time. In this chap-ter I’ll guide you through some of the stats and info onhands-free wireless communications systems and regu-lations. e911 (enhanced 911) emergency services, net-works, and handsets are on the way, and you’ll find apreview of how they could improve personal and high-way safety in this section.

Public safety is not just a concern for our officials any-more; each of us is trying to do our share to stay con-nected and serve as eyes and ears to protect our

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families and communities. The biggest challenge of all might be preserving our privacy andnot confusing safety for security. (See Chapter 7, “Privacy, Personalization, and Security,”for updates on wireless privacy and security systems.)

In this chapter, you’ll find

• Summaries of cell phone health studies

• Sources for updated information on e911 enhanced emergency systems

• Checklist for safer car cell phone use

• Information about hands-free systems and driving laws

• Public safety wireless advances

A NEW ERA OF WIRELESS SAFETY SYSTEMSThe perceived connection between wireless and safety is demonstrably stronger since thefall of 2001. Can the network operators and wireless technology leaders match reality tothat perception?

Politicians, the public, and emergency service personnel all now realize that wireless canbe a crucial lifeline-type service offering real-time alerts and updates during a crisis region-ally or nationally.

Challenges to maximizing wireless’s potential, however, include the following:

• Managing increased traffic loads

• Ensuring communications priority for rescue personnel

• Overcoming networks’ spectrum limitations

• Ensuring reliable systems

Preparing for Emergency Traffic Overloads

On September 11, 2001, AT&T Wireless and most other carriers saw their highest call vol-ume ever. “Traffic doubled in every switch we have,” says Jim Roberts, VP of NetworkOperations at Alltel in an interview with “The Net Economy” newsletter.

Wireless carriers went into overdrive to service unprecedented demand by consumers andpublic safety personnel. Increased wireless traffic involves both the radio network, whichincludes cell sites, and the wireless backbone network, which carries the calls from theradio networks to local and long-distance wireline networks. Normally, to deal with addi-tional traffic needs in cases of natural disasters, such as floods or snowstorms, providersborrow capacity from other markets because there is generally advance warning.

Plus, as you know by now, more than a dozen Manhattan cell sites were knocked out, soadjacent sites were adjusting their coverage to handle those calls. AT&T Wireless installedmore than 860 radios at its cell sites in Manhattan and Washington D.C., and Verizon

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brought in COWs (cellular sites on wheels) and free wireless pay phones. (These operatejust like a regular wireless phone but first establish a radio connection with the wirelessnetwork. Also, when dialing is complete, calls are connected over wireless facilities.) Andstill there was not enough to meet demand.

What can the wireless carriers do in the future to ensure our safety and communicationsoptions? Here are a couple of methods that could help:

• Adjust the vocoders—They turn speech into digital signals, and networks canaccommodate more calls by diminishing the vocoder rate so each call takes upless bandwidth. However, that often means less voice quality, which can be a big-ger problem.

• Add new load balancing software that can distribute the calling loads—Switch acall on a cell site that’s approaching capacity automatically to a less busy neigh-boring cell even though the original cell is emitting a stronger signal.

The good news is that the next-generation wireless networks you’ll read about in thisbook—such as CDMA’s 1XRTT and GSM’s GPRS—actually feature vocoders that boostcapacity even normally. To get maximum capacity boost, you’ll have to wait until most ofyour provider’s customers are switched to these next-generation handsets and networks.Experts say that when all subscribers in a market are using 1X phones, capacity could evendouble.

How do we ensure that emergency personnel and public safety officials get priority callingservices in times of crisis? That issue might not be a problem because next-generationwireless standards support something called access classes. This enables providers to beassigned higher classes in an emergency so their communication becomes a priority. Therecould also be a special channel for the public’s crisis contact system to local authorities.

Wireless Data’s Most Dependable System

Which wireless works best in a crisis? Because data networks need less bandwidth thanvoice, text messaging is becoming a crucial tool in ensuring safe and reliable communica-tion. Chosen by businesses and displaced workers, BlackBerry two-way pagers operatingon Cingular Interactive’s wireless network became one of the best ways to communicatein New York. Cingular says it was able to handle a 60% jump in traffic.

AOL fans should note that the AOL Communicator works on the RIM system, the same asa Blackberry. At press time, AOL was offering the Communicator for a special fee of $99,plus monthly service charges (in addition to your AOL annual membership fees).

Many networks are adding text messaging capabilities to their wireless data services.Sometimes the service is free, but it often costs extra. Consider adding this service toyour package because it could be a lifesaver if voicelines are overloaded.

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Public Safety Wireless Network

To be effective before, during, and after their response, public safety officials throughoutall levels of government must be able to communicate with each other. Back in 1996, thenation’s Public Safety Wireless Network (PSWN) Program was created. Read more about itsservices and mission at http://www.pswn.gov/about.htm. The goal is to “plan for and fos-ter interoperability among wireless networks that meets the requirements of local, state,and federal safety organizations. To achieve this mandate such challenges as spectrum,funding, organization, and operations need to be handled.”

Check with your elected officials for updates on the PSWN implementation.

The Internet Continues to Work

Internet networks are increasingly important tools in emergency response systems andpublic safety communications.

Designed originally as a military and educational network, one of the goals of the Internetcreators was to provide communications capable of withstanding nuclear attack.Redundancy is built and maintained today so that even if a major hub is destroyed, mes-sages can be rerouted. Instant messaging (real-time, online text messaging) becomes cru-cial in an emergency to provide instant alerts and directions.

Increasing capability for Web-enabled phones to access the Internet could mean betteraccess to regional and national news updates, traffic problems, and other up-to-date infor-mation during and after an emergency. New data-enabled content services can also pro-vide text alerts from government and law enforcement anyplace and anytime.

The Role of e911 and Safety

As you’ll discover later in this chapter, enhanced 911 emergency services are going tomake it easier to pinpoint the locations of wireless phone users in times of distress. Mostwireless providers are in the process of updating networks to deliver this capability.Following September 11, journalists asked what effect e911 could have in saving lives inthe future. Consumers need to know that not only must the new networks be in place, butalso new handsets will be needed to take advantage of e911.

The first e911-enabled handset to hit the U.S. market in October 2001 was the SamsungSPH-N300. Samsung is a hardware partner for Sprint PCS. At press time, Sprint is selling thephone for $149. The phone is compatible with the GPS (Global Positioning System) thatuses satellites to triangulate a user’s location within an accuracy of 10–100 meters. Beforebuying this model, check to see whether Sprint is rolling out e911 in your region yet. RhodeIsland was first on Sprint’s implementation program, with the rest of its markets slated forservice throughout 2002.

The FCC is requiring that all wireless phones work with enhanced 911 by the end of 2002.

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The ability for emergency personnel to locate you in times of crisis is not the only safetybenefit of e911. The service will also be capable of directing you to the nearest gas sta-tion and hospital while you’re traveling.

THE CELL PHONE HEALTH CHALLENGEDespite the obvious safety value of cell phones and pagers, health concerns persist. Evenif you’re familiar with the literature and studies on potential health hazards, you mightwant to review the suggestions here on how to limit cell phone risk and also check outdevelopments in hands-free phones and built-in telematic systems for your vehicle.

How to Limit Cell Phone Risk

Is it possible to limit your risk if you’re a cell phone user or want to go wireless at work orhome? Here are suggestions I developed based on the research on TechTV.com and fromother published studies:

• Limit cell phone usage—Until we have all the findings, you might want to limit cellphone use to less than 5 hours per month. Yes, that’s per month, not per day.

• Buy a hands-free kit for your car—Consider buying a car that has a separate exter-nal antenna.

• Consider a radiation shield—Although we have no good evidence to determinetheir effectiveness, if you’re concerned, you might want to get a radiation shield.

• Use a landline if it’s available—Aside from lessening your risk, it still probably offersthe surest connection.

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Digital Angel Tracking

It would be great if cars came equipped with their own guardian angels to guideus safely along our way. As location-based technologies evolve with the imple-mentation of e911, it might be possible to simulate that heavenly assistance wire-lessly. A Palm Beach, Florida firm called Digital Angel (a subsidiary of AppliedDigital Solutions) says it is developing a new technology with “advanced biosen-sors” with GPS to locate cars, people, and even pets in distress. The firm says it isbeginning to ship orders for their devices that come in two forms—a wristwatchand another that resembles a pocket pager that can be clipped to your belt. Thecost is about $300 plus a $20–$50 monthly fee. Of course, using this system orany of the wireless tracking methods raises activist concerns about invasions ofour civil rights and privacy. To learn more about Digital Angel, go tohttp://www.digitalangel.net.

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• Move the cell phone antenna as far from your head as possible—This reducesaccess to the brain.

• Check the radiation information on the chart at www.domode.com or at the FCCWeb site.

• Buy a cell phone with the lowest radiation output.

• If you’re pregnant, limit cell phone use—Don’t put the phone near your stomach (for example, having daddy talk to the child before birth).

• Try not to use a cell phone if the signal is weak—The phone might emit more radi-ation to compensate for a poor signal. For even better transmission and less radia-tion use the phone outside. Sources say that use inside a vehicle (except cloth-topconvertibles) or a building (with metal frame) requires extra power boost to reachthe nearest antenna, thus you could be getting a much higher dose of radiation.

Still concerned about cell phone health and hazards? Take a look at excerpts from thesefindings in this chapter. Do your own research to check out the radiation level of the phoneyou are using or intend to buy. Check the SAR (specific absorption rate) level now on alabel or printed on the handset box before you purchase. Want to search even further?Then, go to TechTV.com and enter the words “cell phones health” in the search window;you’ll find dozens of articles that relate to the topics covered in this chapter.

Note that none of the TechTV.com stories or reports show that wireless can cause canceror other diseases. It seems important, though, to include some of the reports here to helpyou better decide how to keep you and your family safe from any possible radiation emis-sion potential danger.

Under Federal Communications Commission safety standards, cell phones sold in theUnited States can emit no more than 1.6 watts of energy per kilogram of body tissue, ameasure known as the specific absorption rate (SAR), or the amount of radiation absorbedby the body. The SAR gives only the maximum emission from a phone, which occurs whenthe user reaches the outer limits of a transmission tower’s range. According to RobertCleveland, Ph.D., senior scientist with the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology in aninterview with intellihealth.com in May 2001, the standard was set far below the absorp-tion level demonstrated to cause any biological change in laboratory animals. Reassuringthe public, Cleveland says that he expects long-term studies will demonstrate the safety oftelephones. Meanwhile, he is taking no special precautions and uses a plain old handsetcell phone without an earpiece.

Sources for this chapter include some of the best in the world, including the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Journal of the NationalCancer Institute, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and the International Journalof Radiation Biology from Britain. To avoid bias, we didn’t include mention of all of thedozens of studies available from industry trade associations.

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The Studies

Still in progress is the cellular industry’s own study commissioned under the auspices of theFDA. Three research institutions chosen for phase one studies were Integrated LaboratorySystems of Research (Triangle Park, NC), the Interuniversity Center on Interaction InstituteBetween Electromagnetic Fields and Biosystems (Naples and Rome, Italy), and theFraunhofer research on the impact of cell phone radiation.

The institutes in the FDA study will research the impact of cell phone radiation and othersources that can lead to what researchers call micronucleus formation, believed to be anindicator of structural changes in genetic materials. Sources say the first phase of the stud-ies could take two years to complete.

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) is footing the bill, which willreach $l.5 million. What prompted this study? Newsbytes—a Washington D.C. news wireservice—reported that the FDA said more studies might be warranted because industryresearch has been inconclusive in previous surveys. However, one study conducted byWireless Technology Research LLC, an industry-funded but independent lab, came up withdata suggesting cell phones cause damage to genetic material of blood cells called lym-phocytes. You can check out the progress of this CTIA study at http://www.wow-com.com/consumer/issues/health/articles.cfm?ID=165, which is the industry tradegroup’s Web site for the public (see Figure 5.1).

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Figure 5.1

CTIA World of Wireless (www.wow-com) Web site for the public.

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Scientists don’t know how phone radiation affects humans. A Wireless TechnologyResearch study found evidence to suggest that cell phone radiation actually decreased theincidence of brain tumors in laboratory animals. A paper published in the InternationalJournal of Radiation Biology found that cell phone radiation had no effects on short-termmemory. And wearing an ear piece that generates analog cell phone radiation actuallyincreased the response time to yes-or-no questions.

For up-to-date information, check out the CTIA Web site at http://www.wow-com.com/consumer/issues/health/articles.cfm?ID=153. You’ll find that the site explains the fol-lowing:

“Information on SAR levels has always been available to the public. However, in thepast, consumers seeking this information could only obtain it directly from the FCC. Inan effort to make this information more easily accessible to consumers, the CellularTelecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) has launched a program requiringmanufacturers to identify SAR levels in product packaging of new CTIA-certifiedphones.”

Always look for a cell phone model that has an antenna that directs the signal away from the user’s body. As noted earlier in this book, companies are developing cellphone antennas that direct the signal away from the user’s body, which can be valuablein diminishing exposure to cell phone radiation. Be sure to not put the phone extremelyclose to your head.

How Cell Phones Work

To get a clearer understanding of how cell phones, cell phone base stations, and wirelessconnections at home and in the workplace can affect the health of you and your family,you should understand how cell phones work.

For details on this topic, go to www.howstuffworks.com (see Figure 5.2) or to the CTIAWeb site and read the information under the section How Wireless Works. You mightenjoy reviewing this with your spouse, teens, and children because the sites are fasci-nating and provides valuable links to other Web sites and information about studies oncell phones, mobile base stations, and radio frequency (RF).

Cell Base Stations and RF Studies

In many countries, more than half the population already uses mobile phones, and themarket is growing rapidly. In some parts of the world, wireless phones are the only phonesavailable. Because of the increasing numbers of users, additional mobile base stationshave had to be installed.

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Figure 5.2

Howstuffworks.com digital cell phone facts.

What are cellular base stations? You’ve probably seen their antennas on the side of theroad; they are low-powered radio antennas. A base station includes the transmitters andreceivers (transceivers) as well as the antennas that communicate with users’ handsets. Inearly 2000, the United States boasted 82,000 cell sites, with each cell site holding one ormore base stations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheet on electromagnetic fields and publichealth encourages users to keep in mind several considerations:

• Radiation differs between RF fields and X-rays or gamma rays—WHO says currentmobile phone systems operate between 800MHz and 1800MHz. Unlike ionizingradiation of x-rays or gamma rays, RF fields can’t cause radioactivity in the body.

• RF levels differ between mobile phone handsets and base stations—RF exposurefor a mobile phone user is higher than for a person living near a cell base station.

• RF levels differ between mobile phones and radio and TV antennas—WHO saysthat in many urban areas, television and radio broadcast antennae transmit higherRF levels than do mobile base stations.

WHO says that RF fields penetrate exposed tissues to depths that depend on the fre-quency—up to a centimeter for mobile phones. The body absorbs RF energy and producesheat, but our normal thermoregulatory process carries this heat away. According to WHOstudies, all health effects of RF exposure are clearly related to heating.

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On the TechTV.com Web site, you’ll find a December 2000 story reporting that the amountof time spent using a phone does not affect a person’s chances of developing braintumors.

And using a cell phone does not boost your chances of developing brain cancer accord-ing to the December 2000 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, whichpublishes up-to-date findings on U.S. health concerns.

How did the research in the AMA journal study evolve? Here’s how:

• 891 cell phone users were interviewed in a case-controlled study.

• Half of the group was comprised of men and women diagnosed with brain cancer;the other half was a cancer-free control group.

• Researchers came from such prestigious institutions as the American HealthFoundation, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and four other U.S. med-ical centers.

Here are the study results:

“The data showed no correlation between the use of cell phones and the develop-ment of brain cancer,” according to Dr. Joshua Muscat, of the Division of Epidemologyof the American Health Foundation, the study’s principal investigator.

The study also found “no association between the amount of cell phone usage and braincancer.” Monthly phone usage didn’t vary significantly between cancer patients who onaverage used their phones 2.5 hours per month and the control-group subjects who talked2.2 hours per month. JAMA researchers focused solely on users of analog cell phones, notdigital phones (which generally operate at lower power and higher frequencies and thusproduce less radiation).

The JAMA study followed only 831 people, and half of those already had cancer. How pro-jectable is that to the general population? To be frank, no one knows. But in Denmark, astudy of more than 420,000 mobile phone users between 1982 and 1995 found noincreased incidence of cancer.

Why go to Denmark to get the answers? First, Scandinavia has a system of compulsoryregistration of citizens who’ve been operated on as well as national cancer registries dat-ing back to World War II. Data on 420,095 users identified from Danish mobile phoneoperators’ subscriber lists were linked to information at the Danish Cancer Registry via thecentral population registry.

A total of 3,391 cancers were observed in the sample group, which is remarkably close tothose expected on the basis of incidence rates in the general population according to studyresearchers. The study did not support any link between phone use and brain tumors, can-cers of the brain or salivary gland, or leukemia, according to the report published in theU.S. Journal of the National Cancer Institute in February 2000.

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The Danish study provides evidence against a link between cell phone use and brain can-cer. However, researchers also reported that radiation at sufficiently high levels couldcause heating of parts of the body, but it’s a very low rise in brain temperature. Also, thestudy did not clear cell phones of other health risks that still need to be determined, includ-ing correlation between Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and various forms of dementia and skindiseases at point of contact to flesh.

The Danish data was gathered before the link between cell phones and cancer became apublic issue. Some experts feel this gives the study greater credibility because the cancerpatients were unbiased as to what caused the tumor.

Ear Pieces and Headsets: Good or Bad?

Chances are you’ve seen people walking down the street talking to themselves. Most ofthe time, they’re using ear pieces or headsets. How safe are these accessories? Researchingthem, we found that their use seems just as controversial as cell phones.

One British government study showed that hands-free kits cut exposure levels. AnotherBritish consumer-research magazine said that using hands-free ear pieces could more thantriple the brain’s exposure to radiation compared to a conventional mobile phone call.

Handheld and Laptop Risks

It’s tougher to find specific stats on potential health hazards of handheld computers, newPocket PCs, and laptops that are equipped with Bluetooth chips or wireless local area net-work (LAN) cards. Most people don’t use their laptops on their laps or near their brains. Inaddition, with a wireless LAN, most of your time is spent in a receive mode rather than atransmit mode, which can reduce risk dramatically.

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Don’t Worry Too Much…Yet

According to James Walsh, author of True Odds: How Risk Affects Your Everyday Life,information about risk often is presented in a misleading way. Consumers fre-quently jump to conclusions that the available data doesn’t support. In his book,he examines the gap between the data about the risks of cell phone radiation andthe public’s perception of that risk. He points out that you can’t say that cell phoneradiation causes abnormal tissue growth. Establishing that exposure of human tis-sue to certain types of radiation causes abnormal tissue growth, and that cellphones cause some level of radiation, doesn’t prove anything, according toWalsh.

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Cell Phone Health FAQs

You already know that computer geeks are fond of FAQs (frequently asked questions)because they’re a fast way to cut the hype and get to the answers. We answer 10 of themost frequently asked questions about cell phone usage in the following:

• Can using wireless phones cause brain tumors or cancer?—No one knows for sure.Right now we have no definite evidence linking wireless use to any disease inhumans. However, research continues in Europe, in the U.S., and around the world.

• Is it safe to use a wireless phone with a pacemaker?—Check with your doctor, butyou should probably consider not using a phone or dramatically limiting use.Consumer’s Union research has shown that a cell phone can confuse a pacemakerinto improperly altering its stimulation of heartbeats and can cause palpitationsand lightheadedness. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that when thephone is used in its normal position over the ear, no symptoms are detected. So,the issue might be holding handsets too near the pacemaker. Technologyadvances might soon enable pacemakers to send information via a patient’s homephone to a central database on hospital computers, and there it will be forwardedto the doctor’s office. One such device is the Biotronik Home Monitoring Systemthat is FDA approved.

• Do phones with shorter antennas or internal antennas mean less risk?—Both ahandset’s ear piece and its antenna emit radiation, so the length or antenna’s posi-tion in the device doesn’t lessen the risk.

• What does SAR mean and how reliable is it?—SAR stands for the phone’s specificabsorption rate, which is the amount of radiation absorbed by body tissue. Aphone’s SAR value can’t exceed 1.6 watts of energy per kilogram of body tissueaccording to FCC standards. This was also explained in Chapter 1, “Most FrequentlyAsked Questions About Going Wireless,” along with references to the FCC Web site,which provides up-to-date charts to help you rate your cell phone model’s SAR rat-ings.

• Are cell phones the only devices that emit EMR (electromagnetic radiation)?—No.Many household appliances, computers, power lines, building electrical wiring, andeven battery-powered toys emit EMRs. TVs, radios, landline phones, and cordlessphones are all what the FCC calls “non-intentional transmitters.” Cell phones arelabeled “intentional transmitters” and have to meet other FCC regulations beforethey can be sold.

• Can my dad use his wireless phone with his hearing aid?—Some analog cellphones don’t interfere, but some digital mobile phones can cause problems.Hearing aid wearers should ask their doctors about hearing aid telephone intercon-nect systems (HATIS).

• How dangerous is it to live near a mobile base station?—Mobile base stations aresimilar to multichannel two-way radios. Most scientists say that power from mobilephone base station antennas is far too low to produce health hazards, as long as

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people stay away from direct access to antennas. FM and TV antennas send out100–5000 times more power than base station antennas, but they usually aremounted on much higher towers and operate at lower frequencies. The FCC hasset limits on the RF radiation exposure from mobile phone base station antennas.

• Can RF radiation cause miscarriages or birth defects?—The Medical College ofWisconsin report by John E. Moulder, Ph.D., professor of Radiation Oncology, saysthat exposure to RF radiation sufficient to cause whole body heating can causemiscarriages or birth defects. The power produced by mobile base stations is fartoo low to cause full body heating.

• How reliable are radiation testing and the SAR levels?—No one knows for sure.What is generally agreed upon is that you should choose a phone with a rating(SAR) of 1.6 or lower. If your phone is an older model, you might not be able tofind its FCC rating (see the section “Want More Information?” later in this chapter tolearn about FCC ratings).

• Is it dangerous to use cell phones near gas pumps?—Mobile phone manufacturershave warned consumers against using devices near gas pumps. Exxon and Shellhave begun posting signs at their service stations in Europe and the U.S. warningagainst the use of cell phones near gas pumps. A CNN report says the companiesregard the risk of explosion as “extremely unlikely” but wants to err on the side ofsafety.

Are Kids at Greater Risk?

Mobile phones top the must-have list of most pre-teens and teenagers. But kids can be atmore risk than adults, according to a story on Time.com.

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20/20 Cell Phone TV Show

You might still remember ABC’s 20/20 television show in 1999 that reported thatradiation measurements differ depending on how the testing equipment is usedand how the phone is positioned during the test. It appears to be true that wehave no uniform guidelines for the radiation tests, leaving procedures to vary. Labsmeasure SAR on a test dummy head filled with a liquid that stimulates the absorp-tion of qualities of human cells. The FCC is developing new guidelines to establisha standard distance between phones and the testing medium (inside the phantomhead). SAR levels can vary depending how far you are from the nearest cell phonetower. FCC regulations are based on the phones’ maximum power levels. If you’recloser to the cell phone tower, the radiation might be much lower.

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In fact, more than 10 million children in the U.S. aged 10–19 own a wireless phone (note,that’s own, not just use their parents’ phones) according to researchers at Yankee Group.That’s 1 out of 4 kids in the age group. Within four years, it’s estimated that 2 out of 3 chil-dren in the 10–19 age group will have their own cell phones.

Why are children more at risk?

• Kids’ skulls are thinner and their brains smaller, so radiation can penetrate theirheads more easily.

• A child’s brain is still developing and is sensitive to outside interference. Cellphones can affect your youngster’s brain rhythms.

• Children can be more at risk to suffer memory loss, sleeping disorders, andheadaches.

Most of these findings are based on reports from the British government whose StewartCommission found no direct indication that cell phones are harmful, but urged that chil-dren be discouraged from using cell phones and that wireless companies stop marketingspecifically to kids.

The good side of giving kids cell phone access is that parents can keep tabs on their off-spring and know they are carrying safety devices with them at all times because phonesoffer instant access to Mom and Dad and to 911 in an emergency situation. You mightwant to consider a two-way pager for your child or explore two-way radios for communi-cating in your neighborhood. (Check Chapter 8, “Connecting on the Go,” for details on two-way radios for family use.)

Kids and adults alike are turning to other wearables, such as a watch that offers cell phoneaccess. Siemens has a watch that looks like that famous Dick Tracy timepiece our grand-parents know well from the early sci-fi movies and serials that appeared in theaters in the‘30s and ‘40s (see Figure 5.3). Note that the watch works on GSM wireless networks only.If you are not on that system, it will not work in your area. Check with your carrier beforebuying any wearable to be sure it is compatible with your provider. Timex and other man-ufacturers are also designing wearable devices for work and play.

Still in development from IBM’s pervasive computing division is digital jewelry, such as alu-minum watches or bracelets that include microdisplays similar to a desktop computerscreensaver. The watches not only keep time but also have caller ID and a PDA so userscan access their calendars and phone books.

To use the bracelets, users wear a ring that flashes a certain color depending on theurgency of the call. No research was available on the RF emissions of this jewelry, whichis still in the labs as concept prototypes.

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Figure 5.3

The Siemens wristphone is one of today’s versions of the famous Dick Tracy communicator.

Cell Phone Lawsuits

If the studies haven’t alarmed you enough, you might consider looking at some of the law-suits that have been filed alleging that cell phones do cause disease.

Neurologist Chris Newman, 41, filed an $800 million lawsuit saying that companies failedto inform the public of the dangers posed by radiation. Newman has said he has a tumorbehind his right ear, which according to his doctors is just the spot one would find a tumorcaused by frequent cell phone usage. His attorney says his is the only case that has docu-mented long-term cell phone use. He used his phone for 20-minute intervals several timesper day from 1992 to 1998.

The facts? Brain cancer strikes about six in every 100,000 people in the U.S. each year.Human studies have shown no significantly higher rates of brain cancer among cell phoneusers, although according to the TechTV.com story on this case, one study did show thattumors appeared more often on the same side of the head where the phone was used.

The attorney for this case says her client hopes that the lawsuit will prompt the FDA tomandate that all cases of cell phone users who develop brain tumors be reported to theagency. That request brings up privacy issues because, unlike Denmark and otherEuropean countries, the United States has no national health coverage and master file sys-tem of cancer patients.

Norm Sandler, spokesman for Motorola, says his company expects the courts to dismissthe lawsuit.

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Want More Information?

Here’s a list of Web sites and sources where you can get more information on the lateststudies on cell phones and health:

• The World Health Organization—You can find its Web site at www.who.int/peh-emf.

• Point.com—www.point.com offers a consumer site that includes ratings for selectedphones, including the modes they operate in.

• The FDA—Check out its updates on mobile phone models atwww.fda.gov/cdrh/ocd/mobilphone.html.

The FCC

One of the most important and informative places to find more information is the FCC.Visit www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety, or call the FCC at (202) 4l8-2464 for the latest SAR rat-ings.

You can also copy down the FCC number printed on the outside of your cell phone boxand then check the FCC Web site displaying the SAR reports at http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid (see Figure 5.4). Refer to the handset number to find the phone’s official SARreport. Beware, though, some of these reports are often as long as 100 pages. Plus, not allphones models are listed. To double-check, you can always call the phone’s manufacturerand request the model’s SAR levels.

Don’t you love it when you look all over your phone and still can’t find the serial number?Well, the FCC ID number is not the manufacturer’s model number, nor is it the serial num-ber. To locate the number, you might have to try a few steps. Remove the battery pack;the number might be behind the battery. The FCC ID number is composed of a code (3characters) followed by an equipment product code (1–14 characters). According to a help-ful tip from About.com’s consumer advocate Nicolette Parisi, a typical FCC ID numbermight be GMLNSW-4DX.

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What’s Average for Cell Phone Usage?

Is there any average for cell phone usage? According to an FCC report, Americansspend an average of 221 minutes per month talking on their cell phones. So, doingthe math quickly, that translates to about 4 hours per month and actually less than10 minutes per day. If you’re using your phone more, you might double-check theemission ratings and keep closer track of developments on cell phone radiationand health.

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Figure 5.4

Check out the FCC Web site for answers to wireless health questions at www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety.

The FCC ID page includes typical labels to help you identify the FCC ID number becausemany package labels now include the number.

The FCC page features an ID search form. You must include hyphens and dashes to getthe right results. If your phone’s not listed, About.com’s Parisi suggests checking theGrant of Equipment Authorization. Be sure to click View Grant.

For cell phones authorized between mid-1998 and June 2000, SAR max levels should bein the Exhibits section of the Grant of Equipment Authorization page. Click ViewExhibits.

For cell phones authorized prior to mid-1998, the FCC does not have data online. Toobtain information on these phones, contact the manufacturer or customer serviceoffices.

Check with the cellular industry trade group CTIA at www.ctia.org for the latest manufac-turer contact information. Most cell phone manufacturers include some SAR data on theirown Web sites, and many have article links to SAR information.

If you don’t have a chance to go to the FCC Web site www.fcc.gov right now, here’s someinformation summarizing important points from its pages “Cell Phones and Your Health”:

• In consultation with federal health and safety agencies such as the FDA, the FCChas adopted limits for safe exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy.

• The FCC requires cell phone manufacturers to ensure that their phones complywith these objective limits for safe exposure.

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• Any cell phone at or below the SAR levels (that is, any phone legally sold in theU.S.) is a “safe” phone as measured by these standards.

• Information on SAR levels for many phones is available electronically at the FCC’sWeb site (www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety) or by calling the FCC’s information line forRF safety, at (202) 4l8-2464.

The FCC’s health and safety page notes the following:

“There is no scientific evidence to date that proves that wireless phone usage canlead to cancer or other adverse health effects, such as headaches, dizziness, elevatedblood pressure, or memory loss.”

The site does note, though, that studies are ongoing and key government agencies, suchas the FDA, continue to monitor the results of the latest scientific research.

The FCC site refers readers to the FDA mobile phone pages at www.fda.gov/cdrh/ocd/mobilphone.html (note no “e” in mobilphone).

If you or your spouse or children suffer from any chronic illness, you might want to check with your physician for her findings or research on how cell phones can affectsomeone with your particular concern. Our research in this chapter is by no means acomplete survey of the thousands of articles and studies that have been or are beingconducted on cell phone use.

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FCC Official Pacemaker Caution

The FCC site does make one health caution, which we have mentioned in ourFAQs. According to the government, cell phones have been known to have an indi-rect effect in one health area, in that they potentially can cause some interferenceto implanted cardiac pacemakers under certain conditions. The page recommendsthat pacemaker patients “may want to avoid placing a phone in a pocket close tothe location of the pacemaker.” As noted earlier, we recommend that you checkwith your physician if you have a pacemaker or have a relative who has a pace-maker.

CAUTI O N

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CELL PHONES AND SAFETYAs noted in the opening section of this chapter, most people buy a cell phone, at least inpart, because it gives them peace of mind that they can call loved ones 24/7, locate emer-gency help without getting out of the car or finding a pay phone, or be available for kidsto contact anytime and anyplace.

And cell phones do provide that peace of mind for most users. More than 140,000 emer-gency calls are placed daily via cell phones according to the CTIA. That averages to about96 calls per minute.

“Be prepared” is a good scout motto that you should follow to make sure your phone andyou are ready for an emergency. Use the following checklist:

• Phone number—Learn your cell phone number. As silly as that seems, many peo-ple don’t know their cell phone numbers by memory.

Write it down on a piece of tape on the back of the phone if you have troubleremembering. In a crisis, even the best memories go blank. It’s valuable because ifyou’re in an accident or call 911 for another reason, the operator will want toknow your phone number. Even AAA requires a phone number to provide roadservice. The most important thing that you can do to protect yourself is to knowyour phone number and to give it to the authorities when there is a problem.

• Call 911, not a pal—Some stranded motorists call spouses or pals instead of calling911 when a crisis hits. Be sure to call 911 first. You can always call your familylater, after you know that help is on its way. Don’t underestimate the severity ofyour problem. Even a flat tire can be dangerous because once your car is on theside of the road, you might easily be hit by another car.

• Battery—Be sure your battery is charged. A cell phone is useless if it’s dead. Somepeople carry extra batteries in their glove compartments or car trunks. Or, considercarrying a disposable cell phone for use in emergencies.

• Adapter—A good mobile adapter can be a savior. You simply plug it into your ciga-rette lighter and connect it to your phone so there’s instant power. Most adapterskeep charging while you’re using the phone.

• Dual mode—If you’re out in the sticks, your fancy digital phone just might notwork. Analog networks still offer wider coverage, and chances are an analogphone will work outside of city areas. To ensure you’re set for a crisis, considerbuying a dual-mode phone (analog and digital).

• Booster kit—Live in the country or off the beaten path? Love to camp? Then youmight want to buy an antenna or a booster kit for your phone. These amplifiersincrease your phone’s transmission power. Alas, adapters help only when you’rewithin range of a cell site and mountains or tress aren’t blocking the signal.

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It’s always a good idea to keep a map in your car or a reference book of streets in yourarea, such as the Thomas Guide. That way, if you get lost or are stranded when you call foremergency backup, you’ll be able to tell the officials the nearest cross street.

Have trouble reading a map? One of the best tips we know is to use Mapquest.com orother online map service regularly. That way you get step-by-step directions that youcan print out online. It might not always keep you from getting lost but it can be veryhelpful in describing where you are if you can tell the officials how you got there.

Also, be mindful when you drive. Know your location at all times, especially at night or inbad weather. Watch the freeway exits. If you’re stranded on Interstate 5 heading from SanFrancisco to Los Angeles in the middle of the night, it’s helpful to know whether you’recloser to Bakersfield or another city. When you dial 911 on your cell phone, the operatorstill can’t tell exactly where you are located.

Stay in your car until help comes. Don’t think you can flag down another motorist or abouthitching a ride to get assistance.

Authorities sometimes encourage you to walk to call boxes located on freeways. But in thedark, it’s hard to tell whether the nearest box is located ahead or behind you. It’s better tostay in the car, even if it takes a while for help to find you.

Take-out food is hard to find when you’re lost or stranded, so you might want to keep anemergency snack pack of water, crackers, and dried fruit in your car along with your extrabattery or adapter. If you dip into the stash during traffic jams, be sure to replace the good-ies. When you do, check your adapter and battery to ensure that moisture has not cor-roded them. If you live in bad weather climates, this is even more vital.

If you’re interested in how e911 (the next stage of 911 emergency services in the UnitedStates) can help you, check out the e911 page on the FCC Web site (http://www.fcc.gov/e911/). You’ll see news on these new standards and how they are progressing ineach state and various cities.

Automating Your Safety Needs

Telematics is a term you’re going to hear more and more about. In-car navigation systemscan be very helpful in keeping you from getting lost. Want to try one before you buy a carwith a system such as OnStar? Next time you rent a car, ask for the optional navigationsystem. It might take a couple of trips to get used to these systems. Most use voice navi-gation, and some people find it takes time to get used to the machine giving you direc-tions.

For a complete guide to telematics, see Chapter 6, “Telematics: The Web on Wheels.”

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Disposable Phones Enter Market

Soon, frequent travelers might buy disposable paper phones from vending machines.These phones are designed to work in that locale and come with prepaid minutes. If you’relucky, you might even get one as a freebie from your local store as a promotional gift.(Would you like a free cell phone with your smoothie?)

One company already making these disposable phones is Dieceland Technologies Corp.(www.dtcproducts.com). Dieceland Technologies Web siteThey call it a phone-card-phone.It’s made by printing circuits onto a paper substrate using metallic, conductive inks. Thepaper is then folded to make a small phone. It comes with a headset jack that accepts asmall ear piece, making it wearable.

Sound far-fetched? Well, most of us have used disposable cameras, especially when we’veforgotten our good camera at home. The disposable phone manufacturer estimates thenew phone will cost about $10 and will include an hour of talk time (see Figure 5.5).

To search for other paper cell phone suppliers, go to TechTV.com and enter paper phonesin the search window; you’ll see a couple of stories about these “fresh gear.”

How to Drive and Talk

Remember the old joke about the guy who couldn’t walk and talk at the same time? Manyexperts feel that it’s impossible to talk on your cell phone while driving.

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Good Samaritans Abound

Owning a cell phone brings with it the opportunity—or, some say, the responsibil-ity—to be a good Samaritan. Here are some ways to take advantage of theseopportunities:

• Local radio stations welcome car phoner tips regarding traffic snarls.

• Don’t assume someone else called to help a stranded motorist.

• Be safe. Don’t stop to help the car’s occupants yourself; call emergency servicesfor them instead.

• Don’t endanger your own safety by slowing down and talking out of your windowto a stranded car, either. You might lose control of your own auto in the shoulderarea.

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Figure 5.5

Disposable cell phones can be good backups for travel.

The scary stats are certainly out there. Most frequently cited is the New England Journal ofMedicine 1997 study, which says the following:

• The risk of having a traffic accident while using a cell phone is the same as whiledriving drunk.

• Cell phone users are 400%–500% more likely to get into traffic accidents thanthose who do not use them.

• The odds increase for several minutes even after you conclude the call, apparentlybecause your mind is still preoccupied with the conversation, not your driving.

A 1998 study in the Accident Analysis and Prevention Journal found that cell phone drivers inaccidents were nine times more likely to have a fatal crash than those who weren’t talk-ing on the phone.

Risks Not Defined

Despite the hundreds of stories and studies that show a correlation between talking on thephone while driving and crashes, a 2000 study by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysissays that the risks have not been clearly defined. This study, funded by a grant from AT&TWireless, estimates that the chance of having a fatal accident while driving and using a cellphone is about 6.4 in l million per year—surprisingly low.

AAA released a report in June 2001 that said eating, drinking, or tuning your car’s radiowere far more likely to cause accidents than cell phone talking. The AAA Foundation forTraffic Safety examined 26,000 North Carolina police reports from 1995 to 1998 andfound the use or dialing of a cell phone was a cause in just 1.5% of crashes.154

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Rules for Phone Driver Safety

Chances are you’ll join more than 85% of approximately 120 million U.S. cell phone userswho do talk on their mobiles while they drive. So, even though you should stop or limityour cell phone use while driving, you’ll want to be prepared for when you do have to useyour phone on the road.

One of the best lists of safety tips I saw online was on Oprah.com. I’ve added some of thesuggestions to my tip list here:

• Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

• Be sure your phone is within easy reach.

• Be sure to use a hands-free system if you must talk and drive.

• Use the speed-dialing feature so you can make a call by touching only one or twobuttons. Or better yet, be sure you have a voice-activated model or telematics thatworks with voice commands.

• Don’t take notes while driving; use new voice command systems so you canrecord the information for retrieval later when you’re parked.

• Let voice mail pick up—you can always check your messages later.

Best Phones for In-Car Use

So, you know that you’re going to talk and drive despite the risks?

No matter which phone you get, look for these qualities:

• Easy-to-read large screen

• Caller ID

• Phones that convert to hands-free with car kits

• Auto redial

• Call timers (to limit that crucial conversation)

• Programmable emergency dialing

Here are Cars.com’s suggestions on the best phones to use when driving (see Figure 5.6).These recommendations are from October 2000. Newer models might fit your needs evenbetter, so check with your vendor or the manufacturer’s Web site.

• Nokia 282—Has an easy-to-read large screen, caller ID, silent ringing, and voicemail and can be converted to hands-free

• Nokia 5160 and 6160—Have caller ID, voice mail, and one-touch dialing and can beconverted with complete car kits to hands-free

• Nokia 918—Comes with separate buttons for emergency dialing and voice mailaccess, one-touch last-number redial, call timers, speed dialing, and a hands-freecar kit

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Figure 5.6

www.cars.com Web site features driver safety tips.

• Audiovox MVX480—Has speed dialing, programmable emergency dialing, callerID, silent incoming calls, and voice mail access key and converts with a cigarettelighter adapter to hands-free

• Audiovox MVX480XL—Has a large LCD screen, speed dial, caller ID, voice mailaccess key, and one-touch emergency dialing and can be converted to hands-freewith a cigarette lighter hands-free option

• Motorola StarTac ST7790/StarTac ST7760—Has caller ID, voice mail, and one but-ton callback and can be converted to hands-free with optional units

• Motorola MicroTac 650E—Features easy-to read displays, last number recall, autoredial, and one-touch dialing and can be converted to hands-free use with anoptional kit

Talking Might Be Illegal

More than 38 states have bills pending related to cell phone driving. The laws range fromprohibiting use of mobiles by school bus drivers to broader bans on handheld cell phones.

So far, only California, Florida, and Massachusetts have enacted any laws related to cellphone use in cars. California’s law requires rental companies to provide clients writteninstructions on how to use wireless phones safely but not specifically while driving.

Only four states require law enforcement officials to track the use of cell phones in trafficaccidents: Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.

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Bills such as California’s AB 911, which bans standard cell phones but allows hands-freephones, are under discussion in 30 states.

Beware of Local Laws

Even if it’s okay to drive while talking in your state, it still might be illegal in a local com-munity. About 10 cities or counties in the U.S., including New York City, have laws thatallow only hands-free cell phone devices.

Some manufacturers support statewide laws aimed at requiring hands-free cell phone use.Check out the telecommunications provider Verizon at www.verizon.com and you mightfind a special on headsets and other hands-free devices. At one time, it offered hands-freedevices for $15 with free shipping. We can’t guarantee this offer will still be available whenyou read this book, but it might still be valid.

Banned on Vacation

Using cell phones while vehicles are in motion is already banned in Australia, Spain, Israel,Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Chile, Switzerland, Great Britain, Singapore, Taiwan, Sweden, Japan,and Austria. One advocate for cell phone bans says that the number of accidents causedby drivers using cell phones fell by 75% in Japan after the law went into effect.

Beware Smaller Cities

If you head to the suburb of Cleveland that’s named Brooklyn, you better not be using yourcell phone. That city’s law against hand-held phones and driving went into effect inSeptember 1999. (Brooklyn was also the first U.S. city to require seat belt use.)

You might remember seeing Brooklyn, Ohio police officer Rich Hovan on The Oprah WinfreyShow when he met the parents of Morgan Lee Pena from Bucks County, Pennsylvania.Pena was killed by a driver who ran a stop sign while talking on a phone.

Other communities with cell phone bans include Conshohocken and West Conshohockenin Pennsylvania; Marlboro Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey; and SuffolkCounty on New York’s Long Island.

Proposals on cell phone bans have been floated in 37 states and more than 300 cities,including San Francisco and Chicago. So far, however, only a handful of bans have passed.If you’re traveling on vacation or visiting the relatives for the holidays, it’s best to be safeand use a hands-free system.

Advocates for Cell Phone Safety

Everyone talks while they drive, right? Why should you be deprived? You’re busy, too.Morgan Lee Pena’s family Web site might change your mind. Check it out athttp://www.geocities.com/morganleepena/??.

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Morgan was born in May 1997 and died two years later in November 1999. The family iscommitted to raising public awareness and includes not only Morgan’s photo album butalso cell phone safety tips, news, research, and suggestions on what you can do to help.

Tom and Ray: Cell Phone Opponents

Two of the most vocal advocates to stop car cell phone use are PBS radio show hosts Tomand Ray from the popular Car Talk. The brothers have mounted an ongoing campaign ontheir show and Web site, at http://www.cartalk.cars.com (see Figure 5.7).

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Figure 5.7

PBS CARTALK Web site at www.cartalk.cars.com is where you can vent on careless cell phone use.

At this site, you’ll find links to such additional information as scientific and nonscientificevidence about the risks of cell phones, legislative status of cell phone regulations, calls toaction, articles about telematics, and other resources.

Taking Action

Tom and Ray are practical guys. After all, they’re the ones who know exactly when youshould change your oil or what that ping is that your mechanic can’t identify. I’ve addedsome of their tips to our recommendations of how to take action against cell phone usingdrivers who are driving you crazy.

• Write or call your local law enforcement authorities.

• Give someone a “talking ticket.” Check out the Tom and Ray Web site atwww.cars.com for a sample of the kind of tickets they use. Of course, you have towait until the person parks to give him the ticket. Note that this could also be dan-gerous because drivers might not appreciate you touching their precious cars. It’s

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probably better to give people “virtual tickets” by posting information about theerratic driving habits you observe on the Tom and Ray Web site.

• To find phone numbers for reporting impaired, aggressive, or unsafe driving inyour state, go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/outreach/safesobr/16qp/phone.html. Many states have two- or three-digit numbers or letters youcan dial from your cell phone directly to authorities. For example, in Alabama youdial *47, in Iowa it’s *55, and in Florida it’s *FHP. Of course, you also can alwaysreport dangerous drivers to 911.

• Visit the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety’s Web site at www.trafficsafety.org to get its toolkit for distracted drivers (see Figure 5.8).

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Figure 5.8

Turn to www.trafficsafety.org for its toolkit to help distracted drivers reform.

CAR COMPUTING—BEYOND CELL PHONESThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a study in 2000 thatreported on the hazards of using mobile handsets while driving. One of the basic conclu-sions is to install more ergonomically viable cellular phone designs into cars so drivers willbe less distracted. Less distraction leads to lower accident rates.

Delphi calls this new system a mobile productivity center (MPC). It uses a combination ofspeech recognition, wireless 19.2Kbps CDPD packet transfers, and basic cell phone con-nectivity to provide access to the Palm or Pocket PC. The center also features Web-basedinformation clipping and hands-free phone calls (see Figure 5.9). For other versions of thistype of hands-free system, see the ones MobileAria are using in their demo cars across thecountry (see Chapter 6).

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Figure 5.9

Delphi’s Mobile Productivity Center is a hands-free safety option.

THE FUTURE OF CARSBefore you buy your next car, look into which telematics systems are available either asstandard equipment or as an optional upgrade. It might be the best accessory you everadd to your auto for you and your family’s safety. Check out some of these systems inChapter 6.

Some of this “future tech” is already here. You can find in-car systems that offer screens—on the passenger’s side only—that you can use if you pull to the side of the road and acti-vate it.

Want to get a closer look at these new cars? Go to the auto show when it comes to yourconvention center or local arena. Most dealers welcome an opportunity to let you take atest drive of a car that has a telematics system installed. Aftermarket telematics and GPSsystems are also available for some older car models at your dealer or electronics supplierif you want to update your vehicle.

So, if you’re going to buy a new car in the next six months, you might want to look at thecar before replacing that cell phone you lost last week. The new car’s features can influ-ence your choice of phone or device and the model you choose. For example,DaimlerChrysler AG is adding Bluetooth-enabled technology in its Chrysler vehicles as part of the onboard communications system. The new system will offer a hands-free cellular phone in vehicles that wirelessly connects to an owner’s phone, allowing driversto make calls with voice commands. The Chrysler system includes a processor and voice-recognition software integrated with the dashboard and a rearview mirror with a micro-phone built in. To use that system, you need a Bluetooth-enabled phone. Using Bluetooth

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(a standard for short-range wireless data communications), the system automatically con-nects up to five Bluetooth-enabled phones in the vehicle, allowing the driver to make andreceive calls and control the phone with voice commands. Available now as a dealer add-on option, factory installed systems will be included in 2003 vehicles. Note that soon moreBluetooth-capable cell phones will be on the market, and adapters will be available forsome older models.

One of the advantages of the Chrysler system is that it provides multilingual (English,Spanish, and French) and multi-voice recognition. Be aware, though, that the phone audiois fed through the vehicle’s existing speaker system and overrides the car radio.

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