FCC ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY, Cell Jammers, GPS Jammers, and Other Jamming Devices
PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
445 12th St., S.W.Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
Washington, D.C. 20554
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 11-250
February 9, 2011
Enforcement Advisory No. 2011-04
FCC ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY
CELL JAMMERS, GPS JAMMERS, and OTHER JAMMING DEVICES
CONSUMERS BEWARE: It is Unlawful to Use "Cell Jammers" and Other Equipment
that Blocks, Jams, or Interferes with Authorized Radio Communications in the U.S.In recent years, the number of websites offering "cell jammers" or similar devices designed to block communications
and create a "quiet zone" in vehicles, schools, theaters, restaurants, and other places has increased substantially.
While these devices are marketed under different names - such as signal blockers, GPS jammers, or text stoppers -
they have the same purpose. We remind consumers that it is a violation of federal law to use devices that
intentionally block, jam, or interfere with authorized radio communications such as cell phones, police radar, GPS, and
Wi-Fi. 1 Despite some marketers' claims, consumers cannot legally use cell and GPS jammers within the United
States, nor can retailers lawfully sell them.
Why are jammers prohibited?
Use of jamming devices can place you or other people in danger. For instance,jammers can prevent 9-1-1 and other emergency phone calls from getting through or interfere with law enforcement
communications (ambulance, fire, police, etc). In order to protect the public and ensure access to emergency and
other communications services, without interference, the FCC strictly prohibits the use, marketing, manufacture, and
sale of jammers.
What happens if you use a jammer?
Operation of a jammer in the United States is illegal and may subject you tosubstantial monetary penalties, seizure of the unlawful equipment, and criminal sanctions including imprisonment.2
Therefore, this advisory emphasizes the importance of strict compliance with the legal prohibition against jammers.
Need more information?
To file a complaint, visit www.fcc.gov/complaints or call 1-888-CALL-FCC. For additionalinformation regarding enforcement of the jamming prohibition, visit www.fcc.gov/eb/jammerenforcement or contact Kevin
Pittman or Neal McNeil of the Enforcement Bureau at (202) 418-1160 or jammerinfo@fcc.gov. Media inquiries should be
directed to David Fiske at (202) 418-0513 or David.Fiske@fcc.gov.
To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio
format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530
(voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). You may also contact the Enforcement Bureau on its TTY line at (202) 418-1148 for
further information about this Enforcement Advisory, or the FCC on its TTY line at 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-
5322) for further information about the jamming prohibitions.
Issued by: Chief, Enforcement Bureau
1 See 47 U.S.C. 333 (prohibiting willful or malicious interference with the radio communications of any station licensed or authorized under
the Communications Act or operated by the United States Government); 47 U.S.C. 301 (requiring persons operating or using radio
transmitters to be licensed or authorized under the Communications Act and the Commission's rules).
2 See 47 U.S.C. 401, 501, 503, 510.
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