France Cell Phone Precautions Passes the Assembly

The French law if adopted by the Senate would prohibit “any publicity” for mobile phones and other devices such as tablets, targeting “children under 14 years.” Wi-Fi equipment would be banned in nurseries and child care.

One year after a “first-class burial” in the eyes of environmentalists, when she simply disappeared from the parliamentary agenda, the Assembly adopted, Thursday, Sept. 23, the bill “relating to sobriety, the transparency and consultation in relation to exposure to electromagnetic waves ” , submitted by the member of the Val-de-Marne Europe Ecology-Greens ( EELV ), Laurence Bee.
Result of a year of work with the Socialists and the government, the text was rejected by the opposition UMP , which rose against measures “without medical justification well established” , “penalizing the less dense areas of the territory in access to high speed ” , going against “digital innovation” .

For the Minister of Ecology, Philippe Martin, the adopted text appears as a “constructive compromise” and “first response” to concerns about the waves. It will be now discussed in the Senate.

“SPIRIT OF CAUTION”

On Wednesday, a few dozen activists “anti-wave” had unfurled a banner on the Pont de la Concorde in Paris , opposite the National Assembly: “Waves: vote the law.” “We need this legislation. While the population is systematically against the installation of antennas , nine times out of ten it is not heard ” , said Pascal Julien, Deputy Mayor EELV 18 th arrondissement of Paris, came to the event with his tricolor scarf.

The “key measure” the new text brought by environmentalists is “to introduce the objective law of moderation of exposure ” , summarizes M me Bee. “It will be a great improvement, although I would have liked that we go further, she adds . It is quite rare in France, legislate in a spirit of caution. “

ONS 12500 AUTHORIZATION FOR 4G

His bill is part of a landscape marked by the exponential growth of technology wireless (mobile phones, tablets, Wi-Fi, baby monitors …), radio frequency generators – electromagnetic waves among which bathes the population, it Whether or not users of these facilities. And the deployment of mobile very high-speed, 4G, will further increase the impregnation.

At 1 st January 2014, announced the National Frequency Agency (ANFR), the number of “sites” – that is to say, locations antennas – authorized in France for 4G was, all operators, to 12,525, an increase of 3.8% in a month. On the same date, 38 000 masts sites were already authorized for 3G and 2G for both.

Even though there is no scientific consensus on the potential risks of radiofrequency health, several studies and reviews have called for caution. In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified radiofrequency as “possibly carcinogenic” . And in October 2013, the National Agency for Food Safety of the Food, Environmental and Occupational (handles) without concluding with “a proven health effect” , recommended “limit population exposure to RF – especially mobile phones – especially for children and intensive users ” .

NO LOWER THRESHOLD

Hence the focus on a principle of “moderation” of the exhibition. The text submitted to the members is actually itself very moderate compared to its previous version. Thereof, aimed at a threshold of exposure “as low as reasonably possible” would have led – in accordance with the recommendation of the Council of Europe – to set to 0.6 volts per meter (V / m) the limit regulatory. It is now ranges from 41 V / m and 61 V / m, depending generations of mobile telephony.

There is no question now, lowering the thresholds. “New text is largely symbolic, Etienne believes ashtray . Its merit is to put a foot in the door, introducing some regulation in the omnipotence of wireless operators. “

It is also an analysis of the association for a regulation of antennas mobile offices (Priartém). “An advanced small steps is better than no progress at all, its president judge, Janine Le Calvez . Although, rather than moderation, we would have preferred a reduction or limitation of exposure. “

POINTS “UNUSUAL”

In fact, moderation is announced especially for “outliers” , those where the exposure levels “substantially exceed the average nationwide” . This average is 1 V / m, but so far ANFR retains as “outliers” than those where exposure exceeds 6 V / m. According to a study of the Operations Committee on the waves of mobile telephony (Copic) on sixteen cities representative of the French territory and published in August 2013, exposure levels are “less than 0.7 V / m” in 90% of cases, but some peaks are observed “up to 10 V / m at maximum transmitter power” .

For these “hot” points, the census must be conducted every year, the bill “gives notice to the operator to reverse in a period of six months ” . The operator must also ” provide evidence of the effectiveness of the measures adopted ” . That, under penalty of withdrawal of authorization.

EHS

The text says M me Bee, also focuses on “the obligation of consultation and transparency at local and departmental level” , during the implementation or modification of radio facilities. “This is , says the member of restoring the role of mayors, which had been completely excluded from the decision-making loop. “

Other measures are planned, including the prohibition of “any publicity” for mobile phones and other devices such as tablets, targeting “children under 14 years” . For younger, Wi-Fi equipment will be banned in nurseries and child care. Environmentalists hope that this measure is extended to kindergartens, where they wish to be made ​​for any new installation of a telecommunications network, “the study of a wired solution” .

Finally, the difficult question of people with EHS (EHS) electromagnetic fields, the project simply ask the government within one year after the enactment of the law, a report on “the opportunity to create areas with limited electromagnetic radiation, especially in urban areas, the conditions of inclusion of EHS in the workplace and the effectiveness of isolation waves “devices .

“Irrational fears”

Limiting their objectives framing of radio frequencies, environmentalists have actually sought a compromise acceptable to the Minister for SMEs, innovation and the digital economy, Fleur Pellerin, and that of National Education, Vincent Peillon attached to ” do enter school in the digital age. “

The text does not care less operators. On 10 January, eight digital professional organizations “to alarm [ed] and appell [ed] the legislator to change a text whose main effect in the state would raise irrational fears, tensions and disputes around networks and services and digital mobile wireless ” . For signatories (Afdel, FFTelecoms, FIEEC, GITEP, SFIB, Simavelec, and Syntec Numérique Uspii), the bill, if passed, will result in “numerous obstacles to the deployment of mobile networks” and “the availability of infrastructure and more efficient energy devices and innovative environmentally friendly ” .

Also they call “the wisdom of the legislature to establish a balance between the need for transparency vis-à-vis the public and the urgent need to promote investment and innovation in the digital ” . This, they point out, “for the benefit of growth, competitiveness, attractiveness of territories and the employment ” .