Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about GWP’s Smart Meters and Radio Frequency
What is Radio Frequency energy and is it harmful?
Radio frequency (RF) energy is another terms used for electromagnetic fields, radio
waves or wireless signals. Human exposure to unusually high levels of RF energy can
be harmful because RF energy waves can heat body tissue by energy absorption. Such
high levels of RF energy are only found very close to antennas transmitting hundreds
or thousands of Watts, such as Television stations, FM radio stations, and radar
antenna stations. In contrast, the amount of RF energy produced by Smart Meters is
not harmful because the levels produced are too low to produce tissue heating or an
increase in body temperature in comparison to cellular phone devices, wireless baby
monitors, cordless home phones, and WiFi home computer networks.
Are there any safety limits on human exposure to wireless and RF fields?
Yes. Limits on wireless and RF energy exposures have been recommended by International
and national health authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) developed science-based safety
guidelines through guidance and recommendations from the National Council on Radiation
Protection (NCRP), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
A feature of the FCC's safety guidelines is that there is a safety factor of fifty
included in the general population limits. That is, the general population limits are
fifty times lower than the power levels that could cause harm to the human body. These
guidelines serve to protect the general population from over-exposure to RF energy.
GWP’s Smart Meters and cell relays emit only a fraction of the FCC's human exposure limits.
There is no known long term health effect from exposure to RF energy at levels below those
designated by the FCC. This energy is all around and the energy associated by Smart Meters
is far less than those of other common services and equipment.
Are the wireless, radio-frequency (RF) signals used by GWP’s Smart Metering system safe?
Yes. GWP’s smart metering devices communicate using relatively low-power, weak radio wireless
signals that are similar or weaker in strength than those created by common consumer devices
such as cell phones, baby monitors, microwave ovens or Wi-Fi home computer networks. GWP’s
meters emit only a fraction of the power limits identified in the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) guidelines for safe RF energy exposure. A radio station for example, usually
transmits with 50,000 times as much power. Exposure to RF is based on the transmitter’s power
and your distance from the source. At a distance of 10 feet from your Smart Meter, the RF
exposure is only about one one-thousandth as much as a typical cell phone. Smart Meters only
transmit data about 40-45 seconds a day and the time to transmit the data is less than 1
second. This means that low power devices are transmitting approximately .11% of the day,
at short bursts of less than one second.
Will Smart Meters interfere with implanted medical devices or my other wireless devices?
The low-power design of our Smart Meter devices greatly reduces the probability of interference
with other wireless devices. Our Smart Meters have passed FCC required non-interference tests
performed at a certified third party test laboratory and, therefore, are not expected to cause
harmful interference to other wireless or electronic systems. Generally speaking, there are a
number of existing everyday environmental sources that produce much stronger RF fields than
those of GWP’s Smart Meters. Therefore, if the already existing sources are not causing
interference, then we do not believe that the relatively weak fields produced by our Smart
Metering devices would interfere with operation of a medical devices.
More Information:
More information on wireless signals from Smart Meters and RF health effects can be found at:
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