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.
There is always the fall back option that even the most sophisticated militaries still uses. Runners, trumpets and whistles. All still used in todays military.
Am I missing something?
I mean, aside from it being an over reach of the government and against the Constitution (1st Amendment rights) and all....
How is using a cell phone, a public safety concern? How does that harm the public?
I doubt the local law enforcement turning off cell phones has a missile.
It is if you are using it for anti-police activities such as coordinating an attack/protest etc.
Think 911 on the road.
Think 911 during home invasion when you can't get to the closest phone.
There are many more examples.
Have you seen the equipment and tactics that law enforcement uses these days? They wear camouflage, cover their faces, have armored personell cameras, etc. This is military tactics and hardware.
Yes we did but they got away with it because we had no means of mass communication between people. We had to rely on ABCCBSNBCCNN for our news. We could receive but not send.
They already have in some places.
I went down to the tower site after opened it up in October 2011 and there were just huge masses of splices in the streets around the trade center site.
Stock up now then. A scanner does not radiate so no one will know if you have one.
ping
A lot of riots start peaceful then as the numbers grow they become violent. If we have ten people protesting and each call a buddy now we have 20. If the new bunch does the same thing we now have 30. Throw in some booze, a few hotheads and now we have a full scale riot. Just an example of why they could justify this.
Thanks for the ping!
Next Obama goons will have news people 'submit' copy for 'prior' approval. Who knows what might be said or printed - could be something unacceptable. Right?
Hard to believe this administration can get anymore creepy than they already are - then something like this comes up...
I wonder how VOIPO (voice over internet protocol) landlines are affected?
They will once they search your house.
The Fifth Amendment doesn't apply if the say they think you are a terrorist.
If they are shutting down cell phones, I don't see why they wouldn't shut down the Internet.
The FCC doesn’t care about public comments.
Maybe a CB would be good, and maybe some of those 50 mile range walkie-talkies from Cabelas.
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