Portable Cell Jammer Puts the Smack Down on Noisy Talkers
Personally, I hate cellphones in certain places such as a nice restaurant or a movie theatre. Professionally, I am in education and hate the idea of students in a class or lecture getting phone calls. Ethically, I don't know if I have the right to force my feeling on other people, but if I am willing to, this Portable Cell Jammer is the tool I am looking for. With this cell jammer, I can keep people from chatting around me when I don't think they should.
The portable cell jammer is powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery and creates a "dome" of interference that extends approximately 30 feet. It jams many cell frequencies and will keep calls from coming in or going it. It is small; it is portable; and it is very invasive.
My question is this: is this a fair product for me or anyone else to use? Do I have a right to keep your cell phone silenced forcibly and without your knowledge. More importantly, what is my liability if I am using this device and an emergency call is jammed. This cell jamming device opens up a huge can of worms. Would you use it? If so, under what circumstances do you feel justified to block people's calls?
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By Ron, August 15, 2008 @ 5:04 am
Ethically, I see no problem with protecting the air space around you. However, the Feds have a different attitude. It is “against the law” to block cell-phone airwaves, even in the privacy of your own home. However, this assumes the Feds can figure out it was you jamming the signal and they can catch you doing it.
By visitor, August 15, 2008 @ 6:57 am
Jamming devices are illegal in the U.S.
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Blocking & Jamming
The operation of transmitters designed to jam or block wireless communications is a violation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (“Act”). See 47 U.S.C. Sections 301, 302a, 333. The Act prohibits any person from willfully or maliciously interfering with the radio communications of any station licensed or authorized under the Act or operated by the U.S. government. 47 U.S.C. Section 333. The manufacture, importation, sale or offer for sale, including advertising, of devices designed to block or jam wireless transmissions is prohibited. 47 U.S.C. Section 302a(b). Parties in violation of these provisions may be subject to the penalties set out in 47 U.S.C. Sections 501-510. Fines for a first offense can range as high as $11,000 for each violation or imprisonment for up to one year, and the device used may also be seized and forfeited to the U.S. government.
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http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=operations_2&id=cellular