Only a President Can End This Unconstitutional Gag Order: Mr. Trump, Repeal Section 704 Now
In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act—the law that gagged local governments and parents from opposing harmful radiation exposure near schools, homes, and playgrounds. This single provision is what has blocked America from updating 1950s-era, industry-created “thermal-only” guidelines that ignore non-thermal biological harm.
Why Only President Trump Can Fix It
- A President Created It: Section 704 was enacted under President Clinton.
- A President Can Overturn It: Only an Executive Order (or veto-proof congressional act) can repeal this unconstitutional gag order.
What Repealing Section 704 Will Achieve
- Restore Parents’ Rights: No longer silenced at local hearings, parents can protect children from hazardous RF radiation.
- Return Constitutional Freedoms: Reinstates Tenth Amendment authority for communities to reject cell towers on health grounds.
- Modernize RF Safety: Without Section 704, the FCC’s outdated “thermal-only” standards can finally be challenged in court and replaced with science-based guidelines.
- Enforce Public Law 90-602: The mandate to research and regulate electronic radiation—long ignored—would at last be fulfilled, protecting Americans from unchecked wireless expansion.
A Plea to President Trump
Mr. President, you have vowed to put America First. This means putting American children first—not telecom profits. With one stroke of the pen, you can correct a grave injustice that has persisted for nearly three decades.
Repeal Section 704. End the unconstitutional gag order. Restore American freedoms.
Let parents protect their children, let communities uphold public health, and let science—not industry—decide what’s safe.
“The system our Founding Fathers envisioned can only work when Americans are free to voice health concerns and take action. Repealing Section 704 is the key to restoring that freedom—and securing our children’s future.”
“We Need Bobby!”
Why President Trump’s New Autism Statement Highlights the Urgent Need to Repeal Section 704 and Protect America’s Children
Date: February 4, 2025
1. A Turning Point: President Trump’s Statement on Autism
“20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW IT’S 1 in 34. WOW! Something’s really wrong. We need BOBBY!!! Thank You! DJT”
—President Donald J. Trump (via Charlie Kirk tweet screenshot)
With these few words, President Trump has cast a spotlight on a public health crisis that can no longer be ignored. The rise in autism—from around 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 34 in just two decades—demands urgent answers and action. While many factors contribute to neurological disorders and developmental challenges, one silent and often overlooked culprit may be unchecked radiofrequency (RF) radiation, enabled by a single, devastating law: Section 704 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act.
2. Section 704: The Unconstitutional Gag Order on Health Concerns
Enacted in 1996 under President Bill Clinton, Section 704 does two things that have proven disastrous:
- Silences Communities
It forbids local governments from citing health or environmental risks when opposing cell towers—even near schools or playgrounds. - Blocks Accountability
Because of Section 704, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wields sole authority over RF “safety” guidelines, locking in outdated, industry-driven standards that ignore non-thermal biological effects.
Constitutional Violations
- First Amendment: Gags citizens and local officials from openly discussing RF health data in permitting hearings.
- Tenth Amendment: Usurps states’ traditional power to protect public health, granting near-total control to the federal government—and, by proxy, the telecom industry.
3. Autism, ADHD, and Neurological Disorders: A Growing Crisis
President Trump’s new statement underscores a startling fact: the U.S. is witnessing an epidemic of conditions like autism and ADHD. Researchers point to multiple factors—genetics, environment, toxins—but increasingly, RF radiation has emerged as a plausible contributor:
- Yale Mouse Study: Found that pregnant mice exposed to cell phone-level radiation gave birth to offspring displaying hyperactivity and memory deficits.
- Dr. Martin Pall’s Research: Non-thermal RF can overstimulate voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in brain cells, possibly fueling oxidative stress and impairing neural development.
- BioInitiative Report: Compiled 1,800+ studies showing DNA damage, neurological impacts, and immune dysfunction at non-thermal levels of RF.
The alarming message is clear: “safe” RF exposure limits, based on heating alone, may be failing to protect children’s developing brains—and Section 704 actively prevents local governments from addressing this threat.
4. The FCC’s Thermal-Only Guidelines: An Industry Creation
When Section 704 was passed, the FCC simultaneously adopted the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) standard—focusing solely on whether RF heats human tissue:
- Developed by Industry Engineers, not independent doctors or scientists.
- Ignores non-thermal effects like DNA strand breaks, oxidative stress, and neurological changes.
- Based on 1950s–1960s radar data, never updated to reflect the advent of 24/7 smartphone use, Wi-Fi, and 5G.
Key Scientific Rebukes
- National Toxicology Program (NTP) Study (2018)
- Found “clear evidence” of tumors (gliomas, schwannomas) in rats at exposure levels below current FCC limits.
- Demonstrated DNA damage even without significant heating.
- Ramazzini Institute
- Replicated NTP findings at lower exposure, reinforcing the link between cell tower-level RF and cancer risk.
Despite these landmark studies, the FCC has refused to modernize its guidelines, citing the unconstitutional shield of Section 704, which prevents public health challenges.
5. Public Law 90-602: A Mandate Ignored
Public Law 90-602 (Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968) obligates agencies to:
- Conduct ongoing research into radiation (including RF).
- Update safety standards as new science emerges.
- Educate the public on potential risks.
However:
- NTP Research Defunded: After finding “clear evidence” of harm, federal funding for further RF studies was halted.
- FCC & FDA Non-Compliance: Neither agency has enforced modern, biologically based RF safety limits, ignoring courts and scientific pleas.
This vacuum of enforcement leaves Americans—especially children—vulnerable to radiation levels that may cause profound developmental and neurological effects.
6. “We Need Bobby!”: Why Only a President Can Fix This
President Trump’s endorsement of RFK Jr.—“We need BOBBY!!!”—reflects a broader desire for an administration willing to challenge entrenched powers. Yet it’s crucial to note:
- RFK Jr. (as HHS Secretary) Cannot Repeal Section 704
- Only a presidential act (executive order or direct push for legislative repeal) can override the 1996 law.
- Repealing Section 704 is Essential to Real Reform
- Without repeal, local governments remain gagged and must rubber-stamp cell tower expansions, no matter the potential health impact.
President Trump has built a reputation for bold executive actions. This crisis demands exactly that sort of decisive leadership:
“Repeal Section 704 and replace the FCC’s thermal-only guidelines with science-based, non-thermal standards certified by independent doctors and scientists.”
7. How Section 704 Fuels the Rise in Autism and Other Chronic Diseases
- No Local Input: Towns forced to accept new towers near schools, playgrounds.
- Chronic RF Exposure: Children experience 24/7 Wi-Fi, 5G, and cell signals from infancy.
- Rising Autism Spectrum Disorders: From 1 in 10,000 two decades ago to 1 in 34 today, per President Trump’s statement.
- Disregard of NTP Findings: Tumors, DNA damage, and non-linear dose-responses are dismissed by outdated guidelines.
Given these facts, it’s no longer tenable to ignore the possibility that non-thermal RF radiation is contributing to our nation’s unprecedented spike in developmental and neurological disorders.
8. Protecting Future Generations: A Call for Executive Action
8.1. Repeal Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act (1996)
- Restore Constitutional Freedoms: Allow parents and local officials to discuss health risks openly.
- Empower Communities: Let cities regulate tower placement to safeguard schools and neighborhoods.
- End the Telecom Gag Order: Ensure health data can be used in zoning and permit hearings.
8.2. Overhaul FCC Guidelines
- Adopt Non-Thermal, Biologically Based Limits: Focus on real-world usage, cumulative exposure, and child-specific vulnerabilities.
- Enforce Public Law 90-602: Restart the NTP’s research, expand studies on autism links, and update safety standards as required by law.
8.3. Encourage Safer, Modern Alternatives
- LiFi (Light-Based Internet): Eliminates microwave RF.
- Space-Based Telecom: Minimizes ground-level radiation.
- Hardwired Solutions: Promote Ethernet in schools and offices to reduce chronic Wi-Fi exposure.
9. Conclusion: Seizing This Moment for Our Children
President Trump’s recent statement on the alarming autism rate is more than a political talking point—it’s a rallying cry. If the autism surge is “really wrong,” as he says, then it’s time to look critically at the 1996 laws and FCC guidelines that have exposed a generation to continuous RF radiation without legitimate scientific review.
We must repeal Section 704 to lift the gag on health-based objections. We must replace thermal-only guidelines with legitimate, peer-reviewed science that accounts for non-thermal damage. And we must enforce Public Law 90-602, fulfilling the federal government’s original mandate to protect Americans from hazardous electronic emissions.
Mr. President: One Executive Order can reverse decades of scientific disregard and restore the Constitution’s promise to protect health and welfare. “We need Bobby!!!” is a clarion call for deeper change—true leadership that only a President can provide.
The health of our children—and the future of our nation—depend on it.
10. Take Action
- Contact the White House: Demand an executive order to repeal Section 704 and modernize RF safety standards.
- Spread Awareness: Share this consolidated text on social media using the hashtag #TrumpRepeal704.
- Support Independent Research: Organizations like RF Safe and the Environmental Health Trust are fighting for science-based RF regulations.
- Adopt Precautionary Measures: Use wired internet at home, reduce device usage for children, and push for safer tech in schools.
America’s families deserve real protection, real research, and real solutions—not corporate conveniences disguised as “safety guidelines.” Let this be the moment we heed President Trump’s alarm about skyrocketing autism rates and stand up for a healthier, constitutionally grounded, RF-safe future.
Prepared By:
John Coates, Founder, RF Safe – Dedicated to the memory of my daughter, Angel Leigh Coates.
References & Influential Studies:
- National Toxicology Program (NTP) 2018
- Ramazzini Institute Study 2018
- BioInitiative Report
- Dr. Martin Pall’s Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel (VGCC) Research
- Arthur Guy’s 1984 USAF Report
- FDA Memos (1993)
- Yale Mouse Studies on Prenatal RF Exposure
The 1996 Legislation That Changed Everything
A Single Clause with Monumental Impact
When President Bill Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, it was heralded as a revolutionary move—an unprecedented federal push to boost competition in broadcasting, cable, and the burgeoning cellular phone market. But few Americans noticed a tiny clause called Section 704, and for those who did, its language was startlingly direct: local or state governments “shall not” regulate wireless towers based on health or environmental effects, so long as the facilities “comply with federal guidelines.”
But There’s a Catch: Those Guidelines Are Outdated
In 2021, the FCC lost a major lawsuit in federal court (Children’s Health Defense et al. vs. FCC). The court rebuked the agency for failing to update its guidelines in light of modern science. Despite the ruling confirming that the FCC’s thermal-only standards were scientifically obsolete, Section 704 of the 1996 Act still prohibits local communities from challenging these same flawed guidelines on health grounds.
Translation: Outdated FCC rules—proven in court to ignore decades of non-thermal studies—are legally forced onto communities, which cannot cite cancer, neurological disorders, or any other health concern as reasons to reject a tower.
Thermal-Only Assumptions from Mid-20th Century
The FCC’s current exposure limits originated from cold-war-era radar research—essentially concluding that if RF radiation doesn’t heat your skin, it’s safe. But modern evidence indicates otherwise. Researchers now point to non-thermal biological mechanisms such as:
- DNA strand breaks
- Oxidative stress
- Voltage-gated calcium channel disruptions
- Potential neurodevelopmental impacts
None of these factors were considered when the guidelines were drafted. Yet Section 704 locks in these antiquated standards, blocking any local or state authority from introducing modern scientific evidence. As a result, even though a federal court has explicitly ruled the FCC failed to justify its outdated rules, Section 704 means that communities remain powerless to challenge them on health grounds.
Why It Matters
By binding local governments to obsolete guidelines—and preventing any new health evidence from entering the discussion—Section 704 effectively gives the wireless industry free rein to place towers near schools, homes, and playgrounds. Public outrage and scientific updates cannot override a standard that the courts have already deemed inadequate. The law continues to shield flawed science, leaving families and entire communities at risk without any legal recourse.
“This isn’t just about old guidelines—it’s about a legal straitjacket,” says John Coates of RF Safe. “The courts confirmed these ‘safety’ limits ignore modern science, yet we’re still forced to pretend they’re valid.”