FCC issues fines for cell phone jammers ($144K and $126K) !

Started by WA4STO, April 18, 2013, 05:19:17 PM

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WA4STO

FCC Issues Two Forfeiture Notices for Cell Phone Jamming
TAGS: Apparent Liability, communications, Communications Act, fcc, FCC agent, radio frequency devices   
04/15/2013

On April 9, the FCC found two businesses -- The Supply Room in Oxford, Alabama and Taylor Oilfield Manufacturing in Broussard, Louisiana -- to have ?apparently willfully and repeatedly violated Sections 301, 302(b), and 333 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Sections 2.803(g) and 15.1(c) of the Commission?s rules by operating multiple cellular phone jammers.? In addition, the FCC found that both businesses each imported five illegal signal jamming devices in violation of Section 302(b) of the Act and Sections 2.1203 and 2.1204 of the Rules; Section 2 dictates the conditions under which radio frequency devices may be imported into the US. The FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order (NAL) to each business: The Supply Room received an NAL in the amount of $144,000 (FCC No. 13-47), while Taylor Oilfield Manufacturing received an NAL in the amount of $126,000 (FCC No, 13-46).

The FCC received anonymous tips that cell phone jamming was occurring at both businesses. By using direction finding techniques, FCC agents discovered ?strong wideband emissions in the cellular bands? that they determined to be ?one or more signal jammers? at each site. Both The Supply Room and Taylor Oilfield Manufacturing admitted to the agents that they had each purchased five signal jammers off of the Internet from overseas sources.

While The Supply Room?s general manager admitted to the FCC agent that the jammers were in place ?to prevent its employees from using their cellular phones while working? and they had been in operation for more than two years, the manager of Taylor Oilfield Manufacturing told the FCC agent that it ?utilized the jamming devices to prevent its employees from using their cellular phones while working, apparently following a near-miss industrial accident that allegedly was partially attributable to employee cell phone use,? and that the jammers had only been in operation ?for a few months.? Both entities voluntarily surrendered their jammers to the FCC.

?Signal jamming devices operate by transmitting powerful radio signals that overpower, jam or interfere with authorized communications,? the FCC noted. ?While these devices have been marketed with increasing frequency over the Internet, with limited exception, they have no lawful use in the United States. Jammers are not only designed to impede authorized communications and thereby interfere with the rights of legitimate spectrum users and the general public, but also are inherently unsafe. For example, jammers can be used to disrupt critical public safety communications, placing first responders like law enforcement and fire fighting personnel -- as well as the public they are charged with protecting -- at great risk. Similarly, jammers can endanger life and property by preventing individuals from making 9-1-1 or other emergency calls. In order to protect the public and preserve unfettered access to emergency and other communications services, the [Communications] Act generally prohibits the importation, use, marketing, manufacture, and sale of jammers. The Commission has issued several enforcement advisories and consumer alerts emphasizing the importance of strict compliance in this area and encouraging public participation through the Commission?s jammer tip line.?

The FCC directed both The Supply Room and Taylor Oilfield Manufacturing to submit payment in full by May 9, 2013, or file a written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture. Both entities were also directed to file a statement to be signed under penalty of perjury no later than May 9, 2013, that would provide information concerning the source(s) from which each business purchased or received the jamming devices.

RadioRay

The problem is , I've been in workplaces where employees felt that it is their God given right to text, blab and generally play with their cellphones on-the-clock.  The answer to ME was to warn once and then fire them.  However, because there are specific PC demographic dynamics at work, which I'm not in the mood to discuss, firing the sluggards was out of the question for fear of race pandering law suits.  The problem of possibly disrupting 911 calls I understand.  However, the front desk is trained to handle all emergency calls, render immediate aid, and vector paramedics/fire and parloe officers with back-up onto the production floor.  We've had plenty of practice with the last one (HUB Zone business).



I can - unfortunately - see where an employer might feel it necessary to jam cell phones.  Clearly, the FCC has a view on that topic as well.    :P



>de RadioRay ..._ ._


Jam'em all and let AT&T sort'em out!   moo=ha-ha-ha!
"When we cannot do the good we would, we must be ready to do the good we can."  ~ Matthew Henry

KC9TNH

LMAO. The regular EOC staff here once ran that by me in the room at the same time as a fine Constitution-loving JAG.  Besides preventing them from ordering the latest snake-oil in equipment, we decided that it could be handled simply by either some lock boxes before entry or the Command Sergeant Major's stare, which implied MUCH WORSE than what Patton promised for any troop caught without leggings.

Gosh, I saw this thread & thought maybe the FCC went after DHS for harming the sensibilities of the OWS crowd - shucks. [/snark]
8)

RadioRay

Selling jammers is illegal in the United States. We cannot allow the promoting of an activity which is illegal under the laws of the United States:

"...it is a violation of federal law to use a cell jammer or similar devices that intentionally block, jam, or interfere with authorized radio communications such as cell phones, police radar, GPS, and Wi-Fi. Despite some marketers? claims, consumers cannot legally use jammers within the United States, nor can retailers lawfully sell them."  -FCC

For more information, here is the FCC website stating the U.S. laws regarding jammers in plain language.

https://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/jamming-cell-phones-and-gps-equipment-against-law


de RadioRay ..._ ._
"When we cannot do the good we would, we must be ready to do the good we can."  ~ Matthew Henry

GroverPenman

#4
In this modern and high technology world which is also called the "information era". There is no doubt that people now want to own the life that is safe and free and do the thing that they like and want to do. And usually such kind of life is not so easy to own for some people and as they are monitored by some device. If so the cell phone signal blocker device can be your good assistant.