The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) has protested
the October 27th airing of an episode of The
Nightmare Neighbour Next Door program on a British television station that
featured the neighbors of an amateur radio operator complaining that the RF
signals from his antenna were hazardous to their health. Multiple studies have
failed to establish any proof of negative health effects from exposure to RF
energy at the frequencies and power levels commonly used by hams. According to the ARRL Letter, hams across the UK criticized the program and many also complained to Ofcom, the British equivalent of the FCC, noting that the agency had never found a problem with the station in question. The RSGB said it was unfortunate that the producers did not ask for its input on the program or to verify any facts. It also highlighted the many positive aspects of amateur radio and offered to provide input on any future episode which involves amateur radio.
UPDATE: The ARRL Letter on December 8 reported that Ofcom, the UK's telecommunications regulator, has declined to take any action in response to formal complaints filed by RSGB and others, alleging that the broadcast violated Ofcom's "Broadcast Code" because its content was "materially misleading."
