In 2025, America faces an alarming public health reality: 1 in 31 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This unprecedented crisis demands that we critically evaluate both genetic predispositions and key environmental factors, particularly electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Central to understanding this epidemic is acknowledging the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) historical failure in enforcing Public Law 90-602, the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968.
Cordless Phones and FCC’s Early Neglect
Cordless phones became household staples in the early 1980s following FCC frequency allocations (43–50 MHz) in December 1983. Driven solely by performance considerations—such as interference reduction—these allocations lacked any meaningful medical oversight or assessment of potential health impacts.
At that time, FCC regulators relied exclusively on outdated thermal exposure guidelines (ANSI C95.1-1982), which incorrectly presumed safety based solely on the absence of immediate tissue heating. Despite Public Law 90-602 explicitly mandating continuous research and evaluation of radiation-emitting devices, the FCC failed to uphold this responsibility, conducting no significant health studies on cordless phones or related low-level radiation devices.
Reliance on the Discredited Thermal Paradigm
Throughout the 1980s, FCC decisions were firmly rooted in a discredited thermal paradigm, the mistaken belief that only heating effects posed health risks. Today, a wealth of scientific data clearly illustrates that non-thermal biological effects of EMF exposure significantly impact human health.
Historical FCC documentation reveals a glaring absence of medical expert consultations or investigations into chronic and neurodevelopmental risks. Contrastingly, current scientific evidence clearly shows substantial risks from non-thermal EMF exposure, linking it directly to autism through several critical biological pathways:
- Oxidative Stress: EMFs trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS), damaging cells and genetic stability without heat.
- Neurotransmitter Disruption: EMFs alter crucial neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, glutamate), significantly impacting cognitive and behavioral functions.
- Calcium Channel Activation: Research by Dr. Martin Pall demonstrates that EMFs activate voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), causing excessive calcium influx that disrupts crucial neurodevelopmental processes.
A Clear Timeline: EMFs and Rising Autism Rates
The correlation between autism rates and increased EMF exposure from cordless phone use and subsequent wireless technology expansion is unmistakable. Research from institutions like Yale identifies clear links between early-life EMF exposure and developmental disorders, including autism and ADHD. These findings confirm that even low-level EMF profoundly impacts developmental biology.
California as a Case Study
California, with an alarming autism rate of 1 in 12.5 among boys, exemplifies the severity of this public health crisis. The state’s extensive wireless infrastructure magnifies EMF exposure, correlating significantly with rising attention disorders, behavioral issues, and diminished empathy.
Entropic Waste and Genetic Integrity
Biological systems rely fundamentally on precise bioelectric signaling for genetic fidelity. Persistent EMF exposure generates entropic noise, disrupting vital bioelectric processes essential for accurate genetic expression and neurodevelopment. This continuous degradation helps explain the sharp rise in neurodevelopmental disorders, prominently autism.
Legal Barriers Reinforcing Neglect
Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 worsened FCC’s failures by explicitly prohibiting local authorities from regulating wireless infrastructure based on health concerns. Coupled with the FCC’s outdated guidelines, this has created a regulatory environment hostile to scientific progress and public health protection.
Persistent Violation of Public Law 90-602 Today
Public Law 90-602, designed explicitly to protect the public from radiation hazards, remains unenforced today. The Biden administration’s decision in 2024 to defund the National Toxicology Program (NTP)—which conclusively demonstrated EMF-related cancer and DNA damage—stands as a glaring, deliberate violation of this critical law.
By ignoring this evidence, the administration perpetuates an environment saturated with entropic waste, significantly exacerbating neurological disorders, including autism.
Kennedy’s Responsibility as Secretary of HHS
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), has a pivotal responsibility to rectify decades of regulatory neglect. Kennedy’s longstanding advocacy for public health transparency uniquely positions him to enforce Public Law 90-602 rigorously, prioritizing scientific integrity and comprehensive research on radiation-emitting technologies.
Kennedy’s immediate actions should include:
- Restoring funding to the National Toxicology Program and supporting independent research initiatives.
- Revising outdated FCC guidelines to incorporate robust evidence on non-thermal radiation effects.
- Amending Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act to empower local regulation based on health considerations.
Ignoring Entropic Waste: Negligence Driving Autism
The Biden administration’s deliberate decision to halt NTP funding after clear carcinogenic findings represents broader institutional negligence regarding entropic waste. Such decisions reinforce an environment where bioelectric disruptions remain unchecked, continuously fueling autism rates.
This neglect ensures that children’s neurological development remains compromised, regardless of improvements to vaccines or nutrition. Addressing entropic waste is thus indispensable for any meaningful reduction in autism prevalence.
Urgent Recommendations for Policy Action
Immediate policy actions required include:
- Repealing or Amending Section 704: Allow communities to regulate EMF-emitting infrastructure based on current scientific evidence.
- Shifting EMF Regulatory Oversight to EPA: Employ the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) expertise for scientifically sound and medically validated safety standards.
- Funding Independent EMF Research: Allocate resources to unbiased, rigorous studies on EMF’s neurological and developmental impacts.
- Updating Safety Standards: Revise FCC guidelines based on contemporary scientific understanding of non-thermal EMF effects.
Ethical and Scientific Imperative
The FCC’s historical neglect in enforcing Public Law 90-602, particularly during the critical introduction of cordless phone technology, undeniably fueled the current autism epidemic. Addressing this oversight is a scientific necessity and moral imperative.
We must act decisively to restore bioelectric safety and safeguard future generations. Policymakers, scientists, parents, and communities must unite, demanding accountability and reform to ensure a healthier, developmentally sound future. The health and wellbeing of our children depend on immediate, informed action.
