FCC Takes Aim at Internet Sales of Cell Signal Jamming Devices
The FCC Enforcement Bureau is cracking down on the sale of illegal signal jamming devices on the Internet. The bureau served notice Friday it’s issued two separate citations, posting both on the FCC’s main webpage. The bureau issued a citation against a Florida man, for allegedly selling wireless signal jammers on Craigslist.org. Richard Naparty had advertised the device on the Internet site as a “high power cell phone and wireless device jammer with an effective distance of 100 ft. radius. Great for restaurants, doctors offices, stores or just plain fun,” the FCC quoted the ad as saying.
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Jamming devices pose “serious risks to critical public safety communications and can prevent individuals from making 9-1-1 and other emergency calls,” the order said (http://xrl.us/bnsrte). “Jammers can also interfere with law enforcement communications. You should take immediate steps to come into compliance and to avoid any recurrence of this misconduct. For example, any operation of the signal jammer must cease immediately, and you are strongly encouraged to voluntarily relinquish the illegal jamming device. You also may not advertise jamming devices for sale to any consumer in the United States through Craigslist or through any other means.”
The bureau issued a second citation against James Garcia, who also allegedly offered jamming devices on Craigslist in Washington, D.C., and then met with an undercover agent from the bureau to complete the sale (http://xrl.us/bnsruy). The bureau’s citation noted that people who violate FCC rules on selling illegal jammers face fines of up to $16,000 per incident, or $16,000 per day for a continuing violation.
"We are increasingly concerned that individual consumers who operate jamming devices do not appear to understand the potentially grave consequences of using a jammer,” the FCC said. “Instead, these operators incorrectly assume that their illegal operation is justified by personal convenience or should otherwise be excused. While we previously have issued warnings to such operators in the first instance -- primarily because non-monetary penalties historically have proven effective in deterring unlawful operation by individuals -- we are not required to do so."
CTIA welcomed the FCC actions. “In addition to wireless carriers’ steps to find and shut down signal jamming devices, we welcome the FCC Enforcement Bureau’s action today since the use of jamming devices pose grave risks to consumers’ use of wireless communications, including mobile 911 calls,” said Brian Josef, assistant vice president of regulatory affairs. “CTIA has long advocated against the unauthorized use of such jamming devices and removing the distribution outlets is an extremely important step.”