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L.A. Building's Lights Interfere With Cellular Network, FCC Says

Posted by timothy on from the can't-you-hear-me-now? dept.

alphadogg writes "When a certain Los Angeles office building lights up, it's a dark day for nearby cellphone users, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Fluorescent lights at Ernst & Young Plaza, a 41-story tower near the heart of downtown, emit frequencies that interfere with the Verizon Wireless 700MHz network, the agency said in a citation issued against the building owner. The FCC's message comes through loud and clear in the filing: the building owner could be fined up to $16,000 a day if it keeps using the interfering lights, up to a total of $112,500. The alleged violation could also lead to 'criminal sanctions, including imprisonment,' the citation says."

3 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. including imprisonment? by jjeffries · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Who are they planning to imprison for this? The president of the company? The guy who changes out the lightbulbs? Will they build a giant prison around the building?

    Neither Ernst nor Young are around to throw in the slammer, both having started their corps. in the early 1900s.

    1. Re: including imprisonment? by Kierthos · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Obviously, instead of imprisoning any of the current executives (because we can't have that), the building manager will be thrown in prison, because clearly, it's his fault.

      --
      Mr. Hu is not a ninja.
  2. "Must accept harmful interference..." by pla · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What ever happened to the ubiqitous 47 C.F.R. 15.5? How did this building even find noncompliant lights to install, in the US? And weirder still, why the hell would a lighting system use 700MHz?