NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: February 9, 2011 David Fiske: (202) 418-0513 Email: david.fiske@fcc.gov FCC ENFORCEMENT BUREAU STEPS UP EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AGAINST CELLPHONE AND GPS JAMMING Targeted Education and Outreach Coupled with Strict Enforcement Washington, D.C. – The FCC Enforcement Bureau today announced new efforts to clamp down on the marketing, sale, and use of illegal cellphone and GPS jamming devices. The Bureau released two Enforcement Advisories and a downloadable poster on cellphone and GPS jamming that warn consumers, manufacturers, and retailers (including online and Web-only companies) that the marketing, sale, or use of cell, GPS, and other jamming devices is illegal. These steps highlight a new outreach phase of the Bureau’s continuing effort to halt the distribution and proliferation of illegal jamming devices in the United States. In the last two weeks, the Bureau issued warnings to four well-known online retailers – including the company that markets the TxTStopperTM – directing them to cease marketing jamming devices to customers in the U.S. or face stiff fines. “Jamming devices create serious safety risks,” said Michele Ellison, Chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll be intensifying our efforts through - partnerships with law enforcement agencies to crack down on those who continue to violate the law. Through education, outreach, and aggressive enforcement, we’re tackling this problem head on.” Ellison said, “While people who use jammers may think they are only silencing disruptive conversations or disabling unwanted GPS capabilities, they could also be preventing a scared teenager from calling 9-1-1, an elderly person from placing an urgent call to a doctor, or a rescue team from homing in on the location of a severely injured person. The price for one person's moment of peace or privacy, could be the safety and well-being of others.” Jamming devices are radio frequency transmitters that intentionally block, jam, or interfere with lawful communications, such as cell phone calls, text messages, GPS systems, and Wi-Fi networks. Increasingly, online retailers tout small, inexpensive jammers as the solution for noisy classrooms, theaters, restaurants, or business meetings. However, jammers are indiscriminate – they can block critical public safety and other emergency communications along with the targeted transmissions. As such, jammers are illegal to market, sell, or use in the United States. A single violation of the jamming prohibition can result in tens of thousands of dollars in monetary penalties, seizure of the illegal device, and imprisonment. Action by the Enforcement Bureau of the FCC on February 9, 2011 by Public Notice (DA 11- 249; DA 11-250) The Enforcement Advisories and poster can be found on the Enforcement Bureau website, www.fcc.gov/eb/jammerenforcement. Jammer enforcement questions should be sent to jammerinfo@fcc.gov.