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.