FCC Probing Wireless Blocking by San Francisco Authorities

[cal04]

Source: National Journal

The Federal Communications Commission is investigating actions last week by the transportation authority in San Francisco which interrupted wireless service in commuter stations in an effort to foil protesters who had planned demonstrations.

FCC spokesman Neil Grace said in a statement on Monday that the agency is "continuing to collect information" about the actions by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and "and will be taking to hear from stakeholders about the important issues those actions raised."

In particular, Grace alluded to potential public safety problems that could arise when the authorities interrupted service, an action that has caused a national outcry over whether BART exceeded its authority.

(snip)
"Anytime communications services are interrupted, we seek to assess the situation," Grace said.

Read more: http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2011/08/fcc-probing-wireless-blocking.php

[MrNJ]

1. freedom of speech is overrated anyway

:sarcasm:

[jonthebru]

2. They may not have a say here

If the transit authority was using unlicensed bi directional amplifiers that they themselves own and simply turned them off for a while then the FCC has no say. Just sayin', not agreeing with at all. If they jammed the signals, that is another issue.

[dipsydoodle]

3. potential public safety problems ?

Could someone please remind me of how the world was prior to mobile 'phones.

[saras]

4. Protests aren't the FCC's concern - the effects on bystanders are

If I were a businessperson using BART, I'd be hella pissed that they turned my cell phone off because of some protest. The very fact of demonstrations makes it even more likely I'll need it.

[cal04]

5. Live video: Protesters gather at BART Civic Center Station in San Francisco

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/livenow?id=8308260#&cmp=twi-kgo-video-8308260
BART protest live blog: 200 headed towards Powell after Civic Center station closed

http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_18687074

[SonataArctica18]

6. Let's see how far they get.

Freedom of speech means nothing to authorities, which means an FCC investigation will end with BART kissing their asses and sensationalizing everything.

[iamtechus]

7. Communications Act of 1934

Deliberate interference with radio communications violates federal law. It is unlawful to sell or use equipment designed to jam or block radio communications.

http://www.grove-ent.com/LL-1934.html