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.
Why not just gag everybody all the time? Who knows when someone is going to yell, “Fire”, in a crowded theater.
Safety? Like to close to an election?
SSDD:
The purpose of the Internet WAS TO SURVIVE A NUCLEAR ATTACK.
Now all this is to be simply shut down at whim,
for political or other reasons.
Good thing I know semaphore.
Remember when the “smart gun” that would only work if a radio signal identifying the holder as the owner was present was being touted as the solution to gun crime? Someone asked if a widespread interference signal could be generated by the government to make all smart guns inoperative. Of course it could.
Now the government want to shut down cell traffic. Is it any wonder radio controlled guns never caught on? All governments are fascist.
NDAA, SOPA, this. . .yup, the pieces are moving on the chessboard. When the checkmate comes most people will be shocked because they thought the game was checkers.
Of course. What's the point of being in government unless you can control everyone's lives to the last detail? /s
Control is the goal.
It's a logical progression. Serfs have no rights only whatever privileges are granted to them by their master. Government politicians and bureaucrats think this situation is ideal. Government employees HATE freedom in the serfs. Freedom in the citizens limits what the government can do.
Apparently, recent events in Egypt and Lybia were a wake-up call to tyrants - and aspiring tyrants - of the dangers (to them) of modern communications in the hands of the little people....
I watch too many cop shows. Anyway, some use cell phones to trigger bombs. Turning off the towers might stop a cell phone from triggering a bomb to go off. Are they anticipating something?
It’s time we buck up a bit. We may not like it, but the government will get the right to shut down cell phones, they will also get the right to shut down the Internet, and they will also get the right to shut down GPS.
Then again 25 years ago we had none of those things...yet we survived, somehow - and actually did much better than now.
25 years ago we did not have a government actively trying to control us like we do today.
Awesome! Just like the mullahs in Iran!
Stalin would be proud.
“Good thing I know semaphore.”
LOL! The commies will just accuse you of talking to yourself and put you in an asylum.
This makes no sense. Most municipalities use cell phones for their means of communication so they would be cutting their own method of connecting during the so-called crisis. I also don’t think the cell carriers will stand for this.
This will make it easier to remove individuals who are causing problems and nobody else will know.
People will disappear in the middle of the night.
I’ve been thinking of getting a short wave radio; now I’m looking into it.
> FCC Considers Granting Police the Authority to Shut Down Cell Phone Networks
Another power that the police can abuse.
The already have police paramilitary in near violation of posse commitatas.
And why don’t police ever read someone the complete Miranda statement, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?”
They NEVER tell add the sentence, “Nothing you say can be used in court in your defense.” Because, for the prosecution, you are providing evidence carrying the weight of confession, but for the defense anything you say to help your case is here-say.
I was wondering about that. Can signal jammers, jam those, too?
Barring civil insurrection against the government, what event would be substantial enough to warrant shutting down communications?
This kind of ruling would be on the same level as the detention of Americans in the recent Defense bill — that McCain and others supported.
More and more, it is becoming THEM vs US.
What was that quotation from Thomas Jefferson about a little rebellion periodically?
ECOMCON. We’ll meet at Site Y.
People will disappear in the middle of the night.
You are right on the mark. My now deceased parents and I, as a small child, witnessed and lived through exactly what you describe.
tactic to have available if/when tea parties at the Capitol start to look like “arab spring on the potomac”
As long as the sheep can play “Words with Friends”on their phones everything will be fine.
Civil libertarians slam McCain cybersecurity bill
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/civil-libertarians-slam-mccain-cybersecurity-bill-202619424.html
Excerpt:
President Obama’s proposed legislation, like the omnibus bill Reid wants, would leave DHS in charge of cybersecurity. DHS could ask for help from the NSA, but would be subject to closer oversight than actions led by the NSA and other parts of the Defense Department.
McCain last month said he wanted the NSA to be more involved, and the agency is seen as having greater defensive and offensive capability. Under his bill, which was co-authored by seven other Republicans, the cybersecurity centers could use the information they get to investigate crime and for “a national security purpose.”
another source:
ACLU Attacks John McCain’s Cybersecurity Bill
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=24181
This sounds like BS. The police have no business shutting down cell phone networks. I can see them using this power to stop the spread of chaos, but is that fair? If I know a dirty bomb is in my hometown, I should be able to call my loved ones and warn them to get out.
Scary how our interests seem to be aligning with nutjobs like Wikipedia and Anonymous despite everything else.
Who's talking about fairness? Of course it's not fair. This is about control--control of the population, and control of movement. With no communication, you couldn't warn your family to leave town, and that's the way they want it.
Makes you wonder whether they really are nutjobs, or just out in front.
America, she is long gone.
Yep. ‘Tis unsettling.
This is why you need a land line.
LOL
That is a really stoopid idea and a real problem for those in the area who need to communicate for business, medical or emergency needs.
What happens to the mother who cannot contact her children to to tell them she will be delayed or better, what happens if she can’t make arrangements for her children to be cared for?
What happens to the child, who needing managed medical care, isn’t able to get information or the information cannot be given to someone who could care for that child?
What about the parent with Alzheimer’s or other diseases that the don or daughter is trying to manage and now cannot communicate to someone the predicament?
Will any dogs be shot in these fiasco’s?
The all might power of the state trumps all.
Maybe CB Radios will soon be back in vogue.
This isn’t about what’s right—this is about power and control.
An answer to the question of signs for things to come.
In Iraq they shut down the cell towers whenever there was an operation going down. Of course that most likely tipped off the locals anyway but they could not coordinate attacks without cell phones.
The military and law enforcement will still need to communicate so I suggest getting some secure walki talkies
sarcasm
I can never foresee an instance where this would be abused.
/sarcasm
Um... I STILL can’t find a spot in my copy of the Constitution that allows for the FCC to even exist.
Can’t use a land line in your car.
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