The FCC increased enforcement efforts this month to prevent the marketing and sale of illegal signal jamming devices. According to the Communications Act of 1934 that bans the blocking of radio communications in public, the sale or operation of devices that jam wireless communications is prohibited.
In a recent statement from the FCC, the organization reveals its concern that “individual consumers who operate jamming devices do not appear to understand the potentially grave consequences of using a jammer [and] assume that their illegal operation is justified by personal convenience.” The small, battery-powered “jammers” are often used to create “dead zones” of approximately 30 feet and have been used by movie theaters, restaurants and schools to prevent cell phone interruptions. However, the devices have also been used to disrupt law enforcement radio communications and can also potentially be used to disrupt 911 emergency calls and airport navigation transmissions.
According to the FCC, jammers were advertised on Craigslist in at least 6 states during the last month. Eight people and companies advertising jammers on Craigslist were issued citations by the FCC.
