Comment by sp332
14 years ago
Isn't it against FCC regs to intentionally cause cell phones to stop working? I remember some prisons wanted to buy cell jammers to prevent inmates from using smuggled phones, but it's illegal.
14 years ago
Isn't it against FCC regs to intentionally cause cell phones to stop working? I remember some prisons wanted to buy cell jammers to prevent inmates from using smuggled phones, but it's illegal.
"Jamming" wireless transmissions does indeed run afoul of FCC regulation; but that's not what they did here.
They disabled the power to the base stations which were deployed in specific locations (locations which are not public property). I assume they argue that they are not under any obligation to provide access to these base stations. I also assume that the base stations in question are either owned by them, or provided by the telcos.
Technically, one of the wireless providers could probably raise a stink that this action made their service look bad, but I seriously doubt they are going to take a stand in this regard.
It's actually potentially more interesting than that. AM/FM radio stations on licensed frequencies are required to be transmitting. Dead air has to be reported and justified to the FCC, or they can face fines. I wonder if that sort of thing applies to CDMA/GSM radio towers and repeaters.
I'm trying to ascertain that, but so far lost in a maze of twisty little links on the wireless.fcc.gov site, all alike.
I'd actually be surprised if that was the case though.