Cell Phone Jamming Technology

[Aristotle]

So far, cell/mobile phone jamming has only been used for things like anti-terrorism, protecting the President, etc.

What I'd really like to see is smaller versions that can be put inside movie theaters, for example, to forceably turn them off.

http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1...136463,00.html

"You can block a couple of miles or just in the theater," said Bill Vorlicek, vice president of the Emergency Management Group at Kroll Inc. in New York City.

"The military has airplanes that can fly over and block an entire city. A lot of hospitals use them to prevent cell phones from triggering someone's defibrillator. A lot of devices in hospitals are frequency-controlled."

Typical:

The cell-phone industry objects to the use of the jammers, arguing that the airwaves are public property and jammers violate the rights of cell-phone users.

These jack asses also campaign against laws that require headsets in cars because they know 70-80% of their profits come from car usage.

[Kard]

I think it's a tricky subject.

I can imagine the outcry the first time one of these jammers prevents someone's 911 call from their cellphone in a situation where they could not get to a 'regular' phone.

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by Kard
I think it's a tricky subject.

I can imagine the outcry the first time one of these jammers prevents someone's 911 call from their cellphone in a situation where they could not get to a 'regular' phone.

If you are in a movie theater and need to call 911, use the land line. It isn't like there aren't hundreds or more people around to assist in making the phone call.

I agree that any attempts to use this for things like movie theaters will definitely have some major hurdles to overcome.

[kestra]

as long as it doesn't increase the price for admission. We're already getting raped up here.
On the subject of movie theatres, how the hell do they get away with the outrageous prices for popcorn, pop etc...??
I always smuggle in my own pop and popcorn, for the price they ask for there is a HUGE mark up.

[Frobozz]

Originally posted by Aristotle
I agree that any attempts to use this for things like movie theaters will definitely have some major hurdles to overcome.

Hmm.. Really? I would think that if a movie theater, a private company, wanted to prohibit the use of cell phones in a theater they could. There doesn't seem to be a constitutional right to use a cell phone while other people are trying to watch a movie. (I had to deal with jackasses using lcd light up phones during LOTR 3, it blew)

That's just my guess though that if you're on private property and there is a good reason to prohibit them, it can be done.

[Damieux]

Originally posted by Frobozz
I would think that if a movie theater, a private company, wanted to prohibit the use of cell phones in a theater they could.

I can’t see any problem with banning cell phones as a condition of access to private property. However, “jamming” public airwaves is more complex, because the airwaves are public property. Here’s a quote from the article referenced above:

Under law, the importation, sale or use of cell-phone jammers is banned in the United States and can result in Federal Communications Commission fines of up to $11,000 daily per device. An FCC spokesperson said the fines have been levied against people for not holding a license to use the devices.
"The FCC rules are clear," said Travis Larson, spokesman for the international Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association. "Jamming is illegal, but whether there is an exception made for law enforcement is a decision the FCC will have to make."

I am all for cell phone jamming in movie theaters as long as the jamming can be confined to that specific locale. (I’d rather see the movie theaters have their ushers patrol the aisles armed with muzzles though.) I certainly support law enforcement using jamming when necessary for counter-terrorism. However, use of these jamming devices really needs to be carefully regulated.

[Aristotle]

That is indeed the big hurdle- the fact that the airwaves are owned by the "public."

TANGENT: Of course, this fact is conveniently forgotten whenever television, RIAA, MPAA, etc. feel like they want to own it and rape the consumer. They've spent decades making huge money off the "public airwaves" but flip out if people want to record tv shows or other broadcast media for later use (TiVO, for example).

Private property used for commercial purposes often does not enjoy the same freedoms are private, non-commercial property. Thus, that is something that doesn't help the theaters as well.

I'd also love to see ushers policing the cell phone stuff but we all know that will never happen.

First, because no business likes to be put in a confrontational situation with their customers.

Second: Thanks to our law schools pumping out far more lawyers than we need, and thanks to judges not exercising appropriate restraint (and roxoring the frivilous law suits), you know people are going to sue when an usher tries to stop their cell phone use. They'll claim they were harassed or targeted because of their race or some other nonsense.

[Kerrin]

I'd like to see movie theaters become big Faraday Cages.

When I go to see a movie I set my phone on vibrate instead of it making audible ringtones. I've only ever received one phone call while in a movie theater. I just got up and walked out to the hallway to answer it. So simple, so easy.

[Ganthrol]

Cell phone courtesy is a simple concept, but not one everyone heeds.

Banks in the Virginia Beach area already prohibit the use of them. Some of the higher-priced restaurants ask you to turn them off. Regal Cinemas (the big movie company around here) asks you to turn them off during the move previews.

If they are going to argue about airwaves and who has the rights to use them, then one day someone will say that the "air" in their "building" is theirs and refuses to allow the signals to use it.

[Damieux]

Originally posted by Ganthrol
If they are going to argue about airwaves and who has the rights to use them, then one day someone will say that the "air" in their "building" is theirs and refuses to allow the signals to use it.

We are already far, far down this road. That is the whole purpose of the FCC.