President Trump, as you move forward with bold executive actions to restore America’s greatness, it’s time to address one of the most catastrophic failures of the Clinton administration: Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This single provision, buried deep within a sweeping bill, has left the health and safety of the American people vulnerable to the unchecked expansion of wireless technology.
Section 704—and the industry-crafted thermal-only safety standards that accompanied it—represent a profound betrayal of the American public. It silenced communities, stripped parents of their right to protect their children, and allowed wireless infrastructure to spread with zero accountability for its health impacts. Worse, it blatantly undermined Public Law 90-602 (Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act), which mandates ongoing research and regulation of radiation risks.
This failure is directly linked to the alarming rise in neurological disorders—including autism, ADHD, and other developmental challenges—that have skyrocketed since the late 1990s. If we do not act now, we risk allowing this epidemic to spiral further out of control.
President Trump, the time to act is now. We urge you to sign an executive order to:
- Repeal Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
- Remove the FCC’s industry-engineered thermal-only safety standards and replace them with health-focused standards certified by independent doctors and scientists.
- Launch a full investigation into why Public Law 90-602 has been ignored and ensure it is enforced moving forward.
This is not just a political or regulatory issue—it is a moral imperative. The health and safety of the American people, especially our children, must take precedence over corporate profits and outdated, unconstitutional laws.
The Catastrophic Legacy of Section 704
Section 704 was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996 as part of the Telecommunications Act. While the Act promised to revolutionize connectivity and innovation, Section 704 inserted a provision that has had devastating consequences for public health and constitutional rights.
1. Silencing Communities and Parents
Section 704 prohibits local governments from rejecting cell tower applications based on health or environmental concerns. This means:
- Parents are gagged. They cannot raise concerns about towers near schools, playgrounds, or homes, even if they have credible scientific evidence of harm.
- Local governments are powerless. Cities and towns are forced to approve tower placements, regardless of the risks.
- The public voice is silenced. Americans are denied their First Amendment right to petition the government on matters of health and safety.
“Section 704 isn’t just bad policy—it’s unconstitutional. It places corporate convenience above the welfare of the American people.”
—John Coates, Founder of RF Safe
2. The FCC’s Industry-Friendly Guidelines: A Safety Standard Without Science
At the same time Section 704 was passed, the FCC adopted thermal-only RF safety guidelines based on the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)—a measure of how much radiation the body absorbs. These guidelines were not developed by independent doctors or scientists but by industry engineers whose primary goal was to ensure the smooth expansion of wireless infrastructure.
Key flaws in the FCC’s guidelines:
- Thermal-only focus: The guidelines assume harm only occurs if RF radiation heats tissue, ignoring decades of research showing non-thermal effects like DNA damage, oxidative stress, and neurological disruption.
- Outdated science: The guidelines are based on military research from the 1950s and 1960s that focused solely on preventing thermal burns.
- Industry influence: These standards were shaped by groups like the IEEE and ANSI, which were heavily influenced by the telecom industry.
The result? The FCC’s guidelines are fundamentally unfit to protect public health in today’s world of 24/7 wireless exposure.
“These thermal-only guidelines were never validated by independent scientists or doctors. They were written by engineers for the benefit of the industry, not the people.”
—Dr. Henry Lai, University of Washington
3. Public Law 90-602: A Law That Was Ignored
Public Law 90-602, passed in 1968, was designed to protect Americans from the risks of electronic radiation. It requires federal agencies to:
- Study the biological effects of radiation.
- Update safety standards based on emerging science.
- Educate the public about radiation risks.
But with the passage of Section 704, this law was effectively neutered. The FCC’s reliance on outdated, industry-driven standards has ensured that no meaningful updates have been made to RF safety limits in nearly three decades. This is a direct violation of Public Law 90-602.
The Consequences: A Health Crisis for Our Children
The failures of Section 704 and the FCC’s thermal-only guidelines are directly linked to the sharp rise in neurological disorders over the past two decades.
1. Alarming Rates of Autism and ADHD
- Autism rates: Have risen from 1 in 150 in 1992 to 1 in 36 by 2012.
- ADHD diagnoses: Have more than doubled, now affecting over 6 million children in the U.S.
While these conditions have multiple causes, research strongly suggests that RF radiation may be a contributing factor.
2. The Science Linking RF Radiation to Neurological Disorders
- Yale Mouse Study: Pregnant mice exposed to cellphone radiation gave birth to hyperactive offspring with ADHD-like symptoms.
- Dr. Martin Pall’s Research: RF radiation activates voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), leading to oxidative stress and neural disruption—key factors in autism and ADHD.
- BioInitiative Report: A landmark analysis of over 1,800 studies documenting non-thermal effects, including DNA damage, brain function changes, and immune system disruption.
President Trump: The Time to Act Is Now
Mr. President, you have built your legacy on challenging broken systems and fighting for the American people. But the fight to protect our children from wireless radiation—and to correct the mistakes of the Clinton administration—remains unfinished.
By issuing an executive order to repeal Section 704, replace the FCC’s thermal-only guidelines, and enforce Public Law 90-602, you can:
- Restore Constitutional Freedoms: Repealing Section 704 will give communities back their right to protect their health and welfare.
- Hold Agencies Accountable: Mandate the FCC and FDA to update safety standards based on independent science.
- Protect Future Generations: Safeguard children from unnecessary exposure to wireless radiation, particularly in schools and playgrounds.
A Father’s Plea
John Coates, founder of RF Safe, knows this fight all too well. His first child, Angelique, passed away from anencephaly, a neural tube defect that robbed her of life before it began. Now, his seven-year-old daughter attends a school just 465 feet from a cell tower, exposed daily to radiation that the BioInitiative Report says should be kept at least 1,500 feet away.
“My daughter’s school sits 465 feet from a cell tower, and I am legally barred from even mentioning health risks at a public hearing. This is the America Section 704 created. President Trump, I’m asking you to fix it—for my family and for every family.”
—John Coates
The Executive Order We Need
This is the most important executive order of your presidency:
- Repeal Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
- Mandate an immediate reevaluation of FCC safety standards, replacing thermal-only guidelines with science-based limits certified by independent doctors and scientists.
- Launch a full investigation into why Public Law 90-602 has been ignored and ensure it is enforced moving forward.
This is not just about protecting the health of our children. It’s about restoring the integrity of our laws, the accountability of our agencies, and the trust of the American people.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
Mr. President, the failures of 1996 were not inevitable—they were choices made by politicians, regulators, and industry insiders who put profits above people. But you have the power to reverse these mistakes. By acting now, you can leave a legacy of health, safety, and freedom for future generations.
Repeal Section 704. Enforce Public Law 90-602. Replace the FCC’s outdated guidelines.
The health of our nation—and the future of our children—depends on it.
For America. For our children. For the truth.
How You Can Help
- Contact President Trump: Write, call, or email the White House to demand this executive order.
- Raise Awareness: Share this article and educate others about the dangers of wireless radiation and the failures of 1996.
- Support Research: Donate to organizations like RF Safe and the Environmental Health Trust that are fighting for real science-based safety standards.
