NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th 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. Cir. 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: April 29, 2014 Neil Grace, (202) 418-0506 E-mail: neil.grace@fcc.gov FCC PROPOSES $48K FINE FOR FLORIDA MAN WHO JAMMED CELLPHONE CALLS DURING DAILY COMMUTE Washington, D.C. – A Florida man who allegedly jammed consumer cell phone service from his car for nearly two years and interfered with first-responder communications faces a possible $48,000 fine by the Federal Communications Commission. Jason R. Humphreys of Seffner, Florida, apparently interfered with these services while commuting along a section of Interstate 4 in Florida. In taking this enforcement action, the Commission noted that Mr. Humphreys’ jammer operation “could and may have had disastrous consequences by precluding the use of cell phones to reach life-saving 9-1-1 services provided by police, ambulance, and fire departments.” FCC Enforcement Bureau agents identified Mr. Humphreys as the source of the interference by using sophisticated interference detection techniques. They then worked closely with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, which stopped Mr. Humphreys’ vehicle while he was apparently operating the jammer and seized the illegal jamming device. According to deputies from the Sheriff’s Office, communications with police dispatch were interrupted as they approached Mr. Humphreys’ vehicle. Signal jamming devices or “jammers” are radio frequency transmitters that intentionally block, jam, or interfere with authorized communications, such as cellphone calls, GPS systems, Wi-Fi networks, and first-responder communications. It is a violation of federal law to market, sell, import, or use a signal jammer in the United States and its territories, except in very limited circumstances involving federal law enforcement. While these devices have been marketed and sold with increasing frequency over the Internet, their use by U.S. consumers is illegal under any circumstances. Unlawful use of signal jammers could result not only in substantial monetary fines, but also imprisonment. Additional information about jammers and jammer enforcement is available at www.fcc.gov/jammers or by e-mailing jammerinfo@fcc.gov. To report the sale or use of an illegal jammer or to voluntarily relinquish a jammer, call the FCC Enforcement Bureau’s Jammer Tip Line at 1-855-55-NOJAM (or 1- 855-556-6526). Media inquiries should be directed to Neil Grace at (202) 418-0506 or neil.grace@fcc.gov. The FCC enforcement action against Mr. Humphreys is available at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-14-55A1.pdf The FCC’s Consumer alert on the jamming prohibition is available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. -FCC-