He rode the 44 SEPTA bus every day and was sick and tired of hearing people talking loudly on their cell phones, so the man who calls himself “Eric” took matters into his own hands, the high tech way. He bought a cell phone jammer online and started zapping other riders’ phone calls.
Harry Hairston and the NBC10 Investigators first told the world about Eric and the story made headlines all over the world. Eric’s story and cell phone jammers became such a phenomenon, at one point, “cell phone jammers” was the number one searched term on Google.
Not everyone was outraged by Eric’s cell phone-jamming ways. Many who weighed in online said that they wished they could use a jammer themselves to stop rude talkers around them, but there is one hitch: cell phone jamming is illegal in the United States. That’s why the Federal Communications Commission, the FCC, issued this Public Notice reminding people that Cell Jammers are illegal.
In the government notice, the FCC cautioned consumers that it is “against the law to use a cell or GPS jammer or any other type of device that blocks, jams, or interferes with authorized communications...” In addition, they say owning, operating, importing, selling, or even advertising jammers can result in monetary penalties of more than $100,000 and even jail time.
The FCC says that cell phone jammers can block 9-1-1 and other emergency calls from getting through. They cite two very scary, real-life examples of how use of a cellphone jammer could be a public safety concern. In one instance, a high school teacher using a jammer in his classroom to keep students from using their phones while in class, but what the teacher didn’t realize is that his personal cell phone jammer blocked the phone signals from throughout the entire school, making it impossible for anyone to use their mobile phones while inside the building. In the event of an emergency, nobody inside the school would be able to call for help.
In another case, a certified public accountant used a personal jammer in his office so he wouldn’t be disturbed during busy tax season, but that small jammer also stops signals of a nearby Fire Department. He unknowingly was disrupting the safety of the community by using his personal cell phone jammer.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau says that they have a zero tolerance policy on jammers and will take “aggressive action” against any violators. On their website, they even list different companies that have taken action against. If you are aware of anyone using a jammer, you are encouraged to contact the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC or email them at jammerinfo@fcc.gov.
