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FCC Sued to Allow Cell Phone Jammers
stevew writes "A small company in Florida is trying to take on the FCC in an attempt to make their Cell phone jamming product legal. Their main argument seems to be that the Communications act of 1934 conflicts with the HomeLand Security Act — so the Communications act has to go." From the article: "Local and state law enforcement agencies, which would be the first responders to a terrorist attack here at home, are prohibited by law from obtaining such gear. 'It just doesn't make much sense that the FBI can use this equipment, but that the local and state governments, which the Homeland Security Act has acknowledged as being an important part of combating terrorism, cannot,' said Howard Melamed, chief executive of CellAntenna. 'We give local police guns and other equipment to protect the public, but we can't trust them with cellular-jamming equipment? It doesn't make sense.'"
Jamming is a bad idea anyway because the government still hasn't gotten its shit together with radios that work well across departments and agencies. If your fireman has to talk to a policeman, they've got to do it with a cell phone in lots of places. Then, some asshole starts jamming that, and everything goes to shit in short order.
Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
What if a doctor missed an important call?
I'm a doctor. And when I'm at a movie I turn my telephone OFF. That's why we have availability schedules, secretaries, answering services and the like. And if it's THAT MUCH of an emergency, you call 911. How am I going to be able to help you on the phone in a life and death situation anyway?
As for the parent in the movie theater with a "sick child", once again - perhaps a little more organizing is necessary. If you absolutely can't be out of phone contact - are you sure you can be out of physical contact? Again what can you do on the phone? Either the person who is looking after the child is competent or not. If they're not - why are you leaving a child with them? Nah this is just excuses to justify habitual cell phone use. Humanity survived for many generations without cell phones. Being out of contact for an hour and a half is not going to kill someone.
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
A private company can ban you from having certain things on your person when you enter their property.
Lots of places ban cameras.
Lots of places ban guns.