Re: Cell-Phone signal blocking

"Prof. Franz Blaha" <fblaha1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in
news:46929d4a$0$30645$4c368faf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 

> <®©®@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> news:20070709054101.094$hv@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 
>>I bet people are shaking in their boots afraid that you will
>> destroy their phone, no way, they are laughing at your
>> pencildick ass! Run to mommy you ****ing whiner!
>>
>>
>>
>> Jer <gdunn@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>> BruceR wrote:
>>> >  Jer wrote:
>>> >> BruceR wrote:
>>> >>>  > Scott wrote:
>>> >>>>> Jer <gdunn@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in
>>> >>>>> news:1392k4mg1j9k018@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> >>>>>>> What part of
>>> >>>>> "private property" is so difficult to understand?  The front
>>> >>>>> half or the back half?
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>> While you might like to think that one's home is his or her
>>> >>> castle and that such rights are absolute, they are anything but.
>>> >>
>>> >> Dude, talk to the hand.  I made a comment about an issue I'm
>>> >> somewhat familiar with, and now I get a lecture on a buncha crap
>>> >> that don't even involve me.  Take a break.
>>> >
>>> > Accent on "somewhat." The OP wants to know if jamming is legal
>>> > (presumably in the US). It's not. If you can't stand a challenging
>>> > reply, don't post.
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>> If you can't keep up with the thread enough to know who to
>>> challenge, I'd offer the same recommendation.  So, to help you...
>>>
>>> To the OP:  These folks say it's illegal, I've already said I don't
>>> know nor care.  Right or wrong, cell jammers exist for reasons I've
>>> already mentioned.  Personally, I like the idea of cell jammers
>>> because it beats the hell out of destroying the cell phones of
>>> ingrates that can't seem to figure out where the off button is nor
>>> where the door is.  FCC regs and opinions aside, do whatever you
>>> want just like everybody else. 
>>
> 
> Before the discussion deteriorates even more (if that's possible), let
> me point  out that the OP said s/he understood "they
> are illegal in the us (sic!) but they are available overseas," and
> merely wanted to know if they did what they are supposed to do. It's a
> technical question that interests me as well. For legal/moral
> questions (WHYis it illegal and SHOULD it be illegal?), one could
> start another thread (which I would also be interested in).
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Franz
> 
> P.S: Sometimes the law really is an ass (with compliments to Charles 
> Dickens)
> 
> 

The legality question is simple- they are illegal because the frequency 
ranges they are programmed to operate on have been exclusively leased by 
companies that derive income from the uninterrupted use of that spectrum 
by their subscribers.  Subscribers pay to have access to that exclusive 
spectrum.  The lease allows the carrier to approve all devices used on 
that frequency range and all devices used on that frequency range must 
be approved by both the carrier and the FCC. Also to be considered are 
the First Amendment implications of selectively targeting specific users 
with active jamming based on the whims of a third party.  As Jer has 
clearly demonstrated, one does not need a cell phone to be a nuisance or 
an idiot- what if I were able to jam his internet connection to stop the 
noise?

What many people don't realize is that while active jamming is illegal, 
passive jamming of a signal (most typically through the use of 
architectural materials and applications) is totally legal in the US.  
There are countless stories of various businesses building this type of 
jamming into their walls, thereby rendering cell phones useless in the 
environment without violating the exclusivity of the spectrum lease.