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FCC Formalizes Massive Fines For Selling, Using Cell-Phone Jammers (networkworld.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Network World: Two years ago the FCC announced its intention to fine a Chinese electronics maker $34.9 million and a Florida man $48,000 for respectively selling and using illegal cell-phone jammers. Today the agency has issued press releases telling us that those fines have finally been made official, without either of the offending parties having bothered to mount a formal defense of their actions. From the press release announcing the fine against CTS. Technology: "[...] The company's website falsely claimed that some jammers had been approved by the FCC, and advertised that the company could ship signal jammers to consumers in the United States." The company did not respond to the FCC's allegations, although the agency does report that changes were made to its website that appear to be aimed at complying with U.S. law. Next up is Florida man, Jason R. Humphreys, who is alleged to have used a jammer on his commute: "Mr. Humphreys' illegal operation of the jammer continued for up to two years, caused interference to cellular service along Interstate 4, and disrupted police communications." Last Fall, a Chicagoan was arrested for using a cell-phone jammer to make his subway commute more tolerable.
The thing was knocking police radio off air, and no doubt ambulance comms and so on. He got off lightly.
Excuse the Unicode crap in my posts. That's an apostrophe, and slashdot is busted.
I now average about 6 telemarketer phone calls per day on my mobile, to the point I have to even shut off vibrate along with the ringer. I know this is more of an FTC issue, but this is becoming ridiculous and 'Do Not Call' is a fucking joke (as is my pre-pay carrier that allows me to block a grand total of 5 phone numbers). If DNC and the carriers (which are no doubt making bank off telemarketers) were serious, we would be able to instantly flag a number calling us directly within the phone interface.
I wish there was a black list phone app that would block (as in not even trigger the phone circuitry) any phone number I flag, but I'm sure such a thing would ironically (or regulatory captured) be expressly forbidden by said FCC.