Posted on 03/08/2012 3:55:59 AM PST by ShadowAce
The FCC is currently seeking public comments on whether or not it is appropriate and feasible to grant local police forces the power to shut down mobile phone networks.
The request for the public’s input comes after BATR officials in San Fransisco shut down cell towers in an attempt to stop a first amendment protected protest for “public safety” reasons.
An article published by CFO World broke down the FCC request in an easy to understand fashion:
The FCC asks several questions in its request for comments. Among them:
– When have government agencies in the U.S. considered interrupting mobile service?
– When would it be appropriate for agencies to interrupt service?
– What risks to the public could be caused by interrupted service?
– Could mobile carriers allow customers to still dial 911 if other service was shut down?
If the FCC does decide to grant local police the authority to indiscriminately shut down cell phone service whenever they feel there is a public safety concern you can count on legitimate, first amendment protected activities to be targeted throughout the country.
It already happens to a certain extent. During a crisis (a big snowstorm in our area recently) cell towers can become overwhelmed with too much traffic and basically quit working. There were thousands of people trying to call home and nobody could get through (except us hams.... who were watching and listening to all this go on). Also, they have been know to shut off certain area codes to reduce the number of calls going through so emergency responders can use the towers.
The way real emergency responders handle it is to have a cell phone with a different area code.
True. But if the acronym BATR used in the article is a typo for BART, it makes no sense at all that BART authorities have the capability of shutting off cell towers, and that they used this capability in response to a public protest. I tried to find an article about the original incident in which cell towers were shut down, but can’t find anything. Color me mystified.
The incident was about a planned disruption of BART services in BART stations. Their statement includes this:
Cell phone service was not interrupted outside BART stations. In addition, numerous BART Police officers and other BART personnel with radios were present during the planned protest, and train intercoms and white courtesy telephones remained available for customers seeking assistance or reporting suspicious activity.
If the FCC grants local police agencies the authority to shut off cell towers as a result of this incident, I'd predict rampant abuse of that authority.
Whatever happened to plain ole radios. In any kind of disaster/attack scenario the towers would be toast anyway. VHF radios have a pretty good range and satellite radios have even better range, almost unlimited.
Whatever happened to plain ole radios. In any kind of disaster/attack scenario the towers would be toast anyway. VHF radios have a pretty good range and satellite radios have even better range, almost unlimited.
I have phones with both major providers in this area. The police don’t need to shut them down, heck, they don’t work half the time anyway.
Dealing with peaceful protests that get out of hand is part of the price of a free society. I like my chances with the protesters more than my chances with my government masters.
We are fast going the way of Hitlers Germany and Stalins Russia though.
BATR Bureaucracies Always Taking Restraint
20-50 miles is across clear air. Like on two mountains across a valley with clear view of each other. In a ground level residential setting you will be doing good to get one mile. If you can elevate at least one antenna 20-30 feet, you may get 4-5 miles.
Look he’s waving his arms like a Looney! Just as I thought! The Beatles aren’t spelling HELP!
– What risks to the public could be caused by interrupted service?
Always some. But if the risks and danger to the public are greater than allowing the system to continue working...?
– Could mobile carriers allow customers to still dial 911 if other service was shut down?
This is a tricky technical question I can't answer. A land line is the obvious answer, but who has seen a pay phone lately?
... or the muslim brotherhood...
The BART incident is a totally different issue which I support without reservation. They simply disabled cell reception within the tunnel system to disarm flash mobs bent on destruction, disruption and mayhem.
I recall an earthquake in Washington State a number of years back when they were able to and did shut down all cell phones except for the govt ones.
Who you going to talk to? {:-)
Thanks Whenifhow.
land lines and the old BBS system might be slow but info will get out
Sorry to piss in your cheerio’s but it is easier to build a low power signal generator to block signals than shutting down entire networks for what you describe . Shutting down entire networks is for people control nothing else.
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