Alternatives to Jamming
While the law clearly prohibits using a device to actively disrupt a cell-phone, bluetooth, or WiFi signal, there are no rules against passive blocking of necessary transmissions. That means using things like wallpaper or building materials embedded with metal fragments to prevent cell-phone or WiFi signals from reaching inside or outside the room. Some buildings have designs that block radio signals by accident, due to thick concrete walls or a steel skeleton. It would not be illegal to design this into a building on purpose.
Companies are working on devices that control a cell-phone but do not “jam the signal” per se. One device sends incoming calls to the recipient’s voice-mail and blocks outgoing calls. The argument is that the phone still works, so it is technically not being jammed. It is a legal gray area that has not been ruled on by the FCC as of this writing.
Cell-phone and WiFi alerters are available that indicate the presence of a cell-phone or WiFi signal. These have been used in hospitals where radio signals could interfere with sensitive medical equipment. When a signal is detected, users are asked to turn off their phones or other devices.
June 29th, 2008 at 12:19 am
For a less technical solution, Coudal Partners, a design firm in Chicago, has launched the SHHH, the Society for Hand-Held Hushing. At its Web site, you can download a note to hand to people conducting annoying cell-phone conversations, expressing your lack of interest in what they’re talking about.