Theater owners want cell phones blocked

UPI ^ | Dec. 17, 2005 | UPI

[Kjobs]

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The National Association of Theater Owners wants the Federal Communications Commission to allow the blocking of cell phone signals in theaters.

John Fithian, the president of the trade organization, told the Los Angeles Times theater owners "have to block rude behavior" as the industry tries to come up with ways to bring people back to the cinemas.

Fithian said his group would petition the FCC for permission to block cell phone signals within movie theaters.

Some theaters already have no cell phone policies and ask moviegoers to check their phones at the door, Fithian said.

The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association -- a Washington-based cell phone lobby that is also known as CTIA-the Wireless Association -- said it would fight any move to block cell phone signals.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah. Since when have they cared about disturbances. I think the real reason is theater owners want electronic equipment out to stop pirating (as the above poster mentioned) I took my grand daughter to Disney on Ice in Nov. All our bags were checked. I thought it was for security but the guys were looking for movie cameras and recorders.

[John D]

It is their business, should they not have the right to ban cell phone signals into the business they own? If people do not want to go into theaters without their cell phones let them stay away. Let the people who want to go to movies without the constant interruption of the ringing of phones go in peace.

[Seamoth]

In my case, it'd roll over to this guy named Cousin Vinny who'd drive out to my house and wait for me with a spiked bat.

[John Robertson]

Thank you. Brilliant. And true, making it all the more brilliant.

[lemura]

we all have cell phones, we just regard them as what they are:

Annoyances. My family has practically every tech bell & whistle (and has for quite some time). What they are most of the time is a supreme hassle. The new American dream is not to just get rich, but to disconnect as well.

[John Robertson]

"I am in fact amazed that any children born before 1995-ish ever lived to adulthood!"

A mere handful of the most brilliant survived. They went on to create the cellphone technology that today drives us all batshit in the movie theaters.

[CindyDawg]

We would leave numbers and go to pay phones to check. Can you imagine what would happen if you called for someone at a theater today?

Ah. We can't be distubing our customers

We had some call ins and working short.

Have you tried her cell phone?

[SampleMan]

Block my BlackBerry when it is in vibrate mode and there will be discussions. It's 2006. I cannot be out of touch with the rest of the world for 2.5 hours.

Then a movie theater where transmissions are blocked obviously isn't somewhere you should go.

[Wormwood]

I thought it was for security but the guys were looking for movie cameras and recorders.

Which is hilarious, because relatively little piracy is done by handheld camcorders these days. The best pirate copies come from projectionists with tripod-mounted recorders, usually from overseas.

[MineralMan]

"It is their business, should they not have the right to ban cell phone signals into the business they own? If people do not want to go into theaters without their cell phones let them stay away. Let the people who want to go to movies without the constant interruption of the ringing of phones go in peace."

---

What's interesting is that a theater currently under construction could easily be built to block all cell phone signals passively.

A faraday cage is a room surrounded by metal mesh which is grounded. Depending on the size of the mesh, signals of almost any frequency can simply be grounded out, both incoming and outgoing.

For cell phones, a mesh of about 1/4" would do the trick. Simply imbed the mesh behind whatever wall surface you use in the theater rooms, themselves, connect it all together and ground the whole thing to the ground supplied by the electric service. Bingo...a cell-phone blocking faraday cage. No signals in or out.

Such passive blocking is perfectly legal. Only active blocking or jamming is prohibited by law.

[John D]

You must feel that you are the only person who matters. If a theater owner does not want cell phones in his theater that should be his business. If you do not like his rules go somewhere else. Stop trying to force everyone else to conform to your wants.

[ScreamingFist]

What's interesting is that a theater currently under construction could easily be built to block all cell phone signals passively.

I was waiting for someone to point this out. The last building I worked in was a faraday cage with no windows and serpentine entrance/exit halls.....

[paul51]

Man no.1 : Hey baby, how about a little tongue action, huh? Man no.2 : Yeah, stick your tongue down his throat! ( They kick G and Victoria's seats ) Victoria : What are we gonna do? Shall we just move? George : That won't be necessary. ( G gets up and turns towards the two men ) George : Shut your traps and stop kicking the seats! We're trying to watch the movie! And if I have to tell you again, we're gonna take it outside and I'm gonna show you what it's like! You understand me? Now, shut your mouths or I'll shut'em for ya, and if you think I'm kidding, just try me. Try me. Because I would love it!

Two punks to George: FO pal. Go ahead and touch me and I'll own your house

[Calamari]

I cannot be out of touch with the rest of the world for 2.5 hours.

Why?

[Glenn]

You must feel that you are the only person who matters.

I've repeatedly asked to be allowed to act responsibly. You disagree that I should be allowed the choice. You think a third party knows better. Best of luck with that.

[Bernard]

It's 2006. I cannot be out of touch with the rest of the world for 2.5 hours

Are you really into 2006 already? You must be several time zones ahead of me.

[LanPB01]

The owner who is asking you to turn off your Blackberry is hardly a third party if you are on his property.

[Shalom Israel]

In this case, the movie theater would be blocking, not initiating, the interstate commerce.

Nonsense. That's as pernicious as the theory that all commerce is interstate, including non-commercial activities. Unfortunately, the SC has upheld this interpretation.

[Glenn]

The owner who is asking you to turn off your Blackberry is hardly a third party if you are on his property.

Right. "His" property. Forgot. That's a different set of rules. Businesses aren't subject to reasonable expectations.

[SampleMan]

But he might drive it to the theater.

No one cares that you own a Blackberry, laptop, or electronic You Sunk My Battleship. Just to your using them in the theater next to them.

I'm sure they would be just as annoyed if you used a stock ticker or carrier pigeons. If your job is too important for you to be unavailable for 2.5 hours then you need to be available. You are getting paid to be on call 24/7, the guy next to you in the "darkened" theater isn't. In fact he's paying to be in a "darkened" theater.

Perhaps the solution is to offer to pay your fellow theater goers to be on call with you.