Source: http://www.fcc.gov/print/node/47967
Timestamp: 2014-12-29 13:06:45
Document Index: 380450872

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 301', '§ 154', 'art 5', '§ 301', '§ 333', '§ 302', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 15']

Signal jamming devices operate by transmitting powerful radio signals that overpower, jam, or interfere with authorized communications. While these devices have been marketed with increasing frequency over the Internet, with limited exception, they have no lawful use in the United 1 Taylor Oilfield states that it is “a comprehensive facility specializing in repair and manufacturing of down hole tools, custom fabrication, stabilizer manufacturing, phosphate coating, and shot peening services throughout the Gulf Coast region.” It has locations in Broussard, Louisiana and Houston, Texas. See http://www.tayloroilfield.com/index.php/about-us [4] (last visited Mar. 21, 2013).
7 47 U.S.C. §§ 301, 302a, 333. 8 See Cell Jammers, GPS Jammers and Other Jamming Devices, FCC Enforcement Advisory, 27 FCC Rcd 2309 (2012); Cell Jammers, GPS Jammers and Other Jamming Devices, FCC Enforcement Advisory, 26 FCC Rcd 1327 (2011). These advisories, along with frequently asked questions related to the jamming prohibition, are available at http://www.fcc.gov/jammers [5]. On October 15, 2012, the Enforcement Bureau also launched a dedicated jammer tip line – 1-855-55-NOJAM (or 1-855-556-6526) – to make it easier for the public to report the use or sale of illegal cell phone, GPS or other signal jammers. 9 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 154(j), 403.10 The complaint was submitted to the FCC’s dedicated “jammerinfo” e-mail box, jammerinfo@fcc.gov [6]. SeeComplaint (on file in EB-FIELDSCR-12-00002428). 2
Federal law prohibits the importation and operation of jamming devices in the United States and its territories. Section 301 of the Act prohibits the use or operation of “any apparatus for the transmission of energy or communications or signals by radio” within the United States unless such use is licensed or authorized.12 Section 333 of the Act states that “[n]o person shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under this Act or operated by the United States Government.”13 In addition, Section 302(b) of the Act provides that “[n]o person shall manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale, or ship devices or home electronic equipment and systems, or use devices, which fail to comply with regulations promulgated pursuant to this section.”14
The applicable implementing regulations for Section 302(b) of the Act are set forth in Sections 2.803, 2.1203, 2.1204, 15.201, and 15.3(o) of the Rules.15 Section 2.803(g) of the Rules provides in relevant part that
radio frequency devices that could not be authorized or legally operated under the current rules . . . shall not be operated, advertised, displayed, offered for sale or lease, sold or leased, or otherwise marketed . . . absent a license issued under part 5 of this chapter or a special temporary authorization issued by the Commission.16
Section 2.1203 of the Rules states that “[n]o radio frequency device may be imported into the Customs territory of the United States unless the importer . . . declares that the device meets one of the conditions for entry set out in this section.”17 Section 2.1204(a)(1) of the Rules furtherindicates that “[r]adio frequency devices may be imported only if one or more [import] conditions are met.”18 In addition and pursuant to Sections 15.1(c) and 15.201(b) of the Rules,19 intentional 11 See File No. EB-FIELDSCR-12-00002428. The jammers were labeled model number VZ110834, but had no markings of a manufacturer or make. 12 47 U.S.C. § 301.13 Id. § 333.14 Id. § 302a(b) (emphasis added).15 47 C.F.R. §§ 2.803, 2.1203, 2.1204, 15.201, 15.3(o); see also id. § 2.803(a)(1)(indicating that, with limited exception, “no person shall sell or lease, or offer for sale or lease (including advertising for sale or lease), or import, ship, or distribute for the purpose of selling or leasing or offering for sale or lease, any radio frequency device.”).
16 Id. § 2.803(g); see also id. § 2.803(e)(4)(defining “marketing” to include the “sale or lease, or offering for sale or lease, including advertising for sale or lease, or importation, shipment, or distribution for the purpose of selling or leasing or offering for sale or lease.”).
17 Id. § 2.1203.18 Id. § 2.1204(a)(1) (describing the only circumstances under which radio frequency devices are permitted to be imported). But see discussion in para. 7 infra (emphasizing that the statutory exceptions in Section 302(c) of the Act and in Section 2.1204(a)(5)-(6) of the Rules are the only exemptions that apply to signal jamming devices).
19 Id. §§ 15.1(c), 15.201(b).
FCC 13-46 radiators20 cannot be operate