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Federal law prohibits the operation, marketing, or sale of any type of jamming equipment, including devices that interfere with cellular and Personal Communication Services (PCS), police radar, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and wireless networking services (Wi-Fi). |
"Jamming devices create serious safety risks. 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."
-- P. Michele Ellison, Chief, Enforcement Bureau
Jamming Prohibition
The use of "cell jammers" or similar devices designed to intentionally
block, jam, or interfere with authorized radio communications (signal
blockers, GPS jammers, or text stoppers, etc.) is a violation of federal
law. Also, it is unlawful to advertise, sell, distribute, or otherwise
market these devices to consumers in the United States. These devices
pose serious risks to critical public safety communications, and can
prevent you and others from making 9-1-1 and other emergency calls.
Jammers can also interfere with law enforcement communications.
Operation of a jammer in the United States may subject you to substantial monetary penalties, seizure of the unlawful equipment, and criminal sanctions including imprisonment.
Frequently Asked Questions: GPS, Wi-Fi, and Cell Phone Jammers
File a Complaint
If you are aware that someone is operating, selling, leasing, advertising for sale, shipping, distributing,
and/or importing jammers, you can file a
complaint at:
http://www.fcc.gov/complaints.
Applicable Law
- The Communications Act of 1934
- Section 301 - requires persons operating or using radio transmitters to be licensed or authorized under the Commissions rules (47 U.S.C. § 301)
- Section 302(b) - prohibits the manufacture, importation, marketing, sale or operation of these devices within the United States (47 U.S.C. § 302a(b))
- Section 333 - prohibits willful or malicious interference with the radio communications of any station licensed or authorized under the Act or operated by the U.S. Government (47 U.S.C. § 333)
- Section 503 - allows the FCC to impose forfeitures for willful or repeated violations of the Communications Act, the Commission's rules, regulations, or related orders, as well as for violations of the terms and conditions of any license, certificate, or other Commission authorization, among other things.
- Sections 510 - allows for seizure of unlawful equipment (47 U.S.C. § 510)
- The Commission's Rules
- Section 2.803 - prohibits the manufacture, importation, marketing, sale or operation of these devices within the United States (47 C.F.R. § 2.803)
- Section 2.807 - provides for certain limited exceptions, such as the sale to U.S. government users (47 C.F.R. § 2.807)
- The Criminal Code (Enforced by the Department of Justice)
- Title 18, Section 1362 - prohibits willful or malicious interference to US government communications; subjects the operator to possible fines, imprisonment, or both (18 U.S.C. § 1362)
- Title 18, Section 1367(a) - prohibits intentional or malicious interference to satellite communications; subjects the operator to possible fines, imprisonment, or both (18 U.S.C. § 1367(a))
- Sale or Use of Transmitters Designed to Prevent, Jam or Interfere with Cell Phone Communications is Prohibited in the United States, Public Notice, DA 05-1776 (2005).
- Office Of Engineering and Technology and Compliance and Information Bureau Warn Against the Manufacture, Importation, Marketing or Operation of Transmitters Designed to Prevent or Otherwise Interfere with Cellular Radio Communications, Public Notice, DA 99-2150 (1999).
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Contacts
For additional information regarding compliance with and enforcement of the Commission's equipment marketing rules as they apply to jamming devices, contact Kevin Pittman or Neal McNeil of the Enforcement Bureau at (202) 418-1160 or jammerinfo@fcc.gov.
Blogs on Jammer Enforcement
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Tweets on Jammer Enforcement
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Recent News Releases
| 04-09-2013 | The Supply Room, Inc., Oxford, Alabama | NAL |
| 04-09-2013 | Taylor Oilfield Manufacturing, Inc., Broussard, Louisiana | NAL |
| 10-15-2012 | Scott Sandlin | CITATION & ORDER |
| 10-15-2012 | Keith Grabowsky | CITATION & ORDER |
| 10-15-2012 | Joseph Hundley | CITATION & ORDER |
| 10-15-2012 | John A. Bering | CITATION & ORDER |
| 10-15-2012 | George Conde | CITATION & ORDER |
| 10-15-2012 | Dancing Bear Technologies | CITATION & ORDER |
| 10-05-2012 | Richard Naparty | CITATION |
| 10-05-2012 | James Christopher Garcia | CITATION |
| 07-18-2012 | Spy Shop d/b/a IQ Tronics, Inc. et al. | CITATION |
| 07-12-2012 | TD Spot Inc. dba Spy Spot Investigations | CITATION |
| 02-24-2012 | Jack Campbell, Diane Campbell | NOUO |
| 12-06-2011 | Central Buy Low Liquors, Chicago, IL | NOUO |
| 10-17-2011 | Spy Gallery, Inc. | CITATION |
| 09-30-2011 | Omnibus Citation to Twenty Online Jamming Retailers | CITATION |
| 06-21-2011 | Gladys A. Jones, Waterford, CA | NOUO |
| 06-06-2011 | James K. Tepfenhart, Felton, DE | NOUO |
| 06-02-2011 | Chris Ott, Winchester, VA | NOUO |
| 05-25-2011 | Professional Beauty School, Yakima, WA | NOUO |
| 05-20-2011 | Pyong Kon Eun, Knoxville, TN | CITATION |
| 05-04-2011 | GadgetTown Inc. d/b/a GadgetTown.com | CITATION |
| 04-22-2011 | Tommy Nguyen, Santa Clara, CA | NOUO |
| 04-08-2011 | Palm Desert High School, Palm Desert, CA | NOUO |
| 03-18-2011 | Hair Mechanix, Las Vegas, NV | NOUO |
| 03-18-2011 | EDN Aviation, Inc., Van Nuys, CA | NOUO |
| 03-15-2011 | Johnsburg High School, Johnsburg, IL | NOUO |
| 02-09-2011 | Shenzhen Tangreat Technology Co., Ltd. | ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE |
| 02-09-2011 | Share Enterprises Unlimited, Inc. | CITATION |
| 02-09-2011 | DealExtreme | CITATION |
| 01-26-2011 | DeadlyDeal.com | CITATION |
| 01-26-2011 | Comtrex Communications Ltd. | CITATION |
| 01-21-2011 | New Century Technology Limited, Shenzhen, China | CITATION |
| 12-06-2010 | Everbuying.com, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057, China | CITATION |
| 11-26-2010 | Jammer World/theJammerStore.com | CITATION |
| 11-16-2010 | Scott Ventura, Buffalo, New York | NOUO |
| 09-15-2010 | Hansen's Cakes, Los Angeles, CA | NOUO |
| 07-09-2010 | Michael Herring, Philadelphia, PA | NOUO |
| 05-19-2010 | Lonnie Hale dba The Package Store, Fort Payne, AL | NOUO |
| 05-18-2010 | Anoy Wray, Carteret, New Jersey | NOUO |
| 04-20-2010 | Phonejammer.com | NAL |
| 04-06-2010 | Arthur Edelstein, Downey, CA | NOUO |
| 03-23-2010 | Stephen Pearson, Marathon, FL | NOUO |
| 03-23-2010 | Krishnaswamy Prasad, Whittier, CA | NOUO |
| 03-08-2010 | Merchant Adjustment Service Inc., Mobile, AL | NOUO |
| 02-05-2010 | BizCom, Aubrey, Texas | CITATION |
| 12-11-2009 | Fenestration Testing Laboratory, Inc., Medley, FL | NOUO |
| 12-09-2009 | Tim Lusk, Alpine, TX | NOUO |
| 11-24-2009 | End Zone Athletics, Inc., Arlington, Texas | NOUO |
| 11-24-2009 | Cosmetology Career Center, Carrollton, Texas | NOUO |
| 11-13-2009 | Norco D&I Enterprises, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN | NOUO |
| 08-13-2009 | Gene Stinson d.b.a. D&G Food Mart, Oklahoma City, OK | NOUO |
| 07-31-2009 | The Spy Store, Inc., Spokane, WA | CITATION |
| 06-29-2009 | Scott Hidnert, Miami, FL | NOUO |
| 04-27-2009 | James Wanza, Miami, FL | NOUO |
| 09-08-2008 | MicroVideoX, LLC, Grand Junction, CO | CITATION |
| 05-27-2008 | DPL Surveillance Equipment, Reseda, California | CITATION |
| 05-23-2008 | David Steele Enterprises, Inc., Newport Beach, California | CITATION |
| 05-22-2008 | Phonejammer.com | CITATION |
| 01-28-2008 | Garden State Investigations and Security, Jackson, New Jersey | CITATION |
| 12-06-2007 | BRD Security Products, Inc. d/b/a Spybase.com, Torrance, CA | CITATION |
| 11-01-2007 | Basic Home Shopping, Philadelphia, PA | CITATION |
| 08-16-2007 | Rocky Mountain Radar, El Paso, TX | FORFEITURE ORDER |
| 08-02-2007 | Gain Saver, Long Beach, California | CITATION |
| 07-26-2007 | ShoppersChoice.com, LLC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana | CITATION |
| 07-26-2007 | Shopila Corporation, New York, NY | CITATION |
| 07-19-2007 | Unbeatablesale.com, Inc., Lakewood, NJ | CITATION |
| 07-18-2007 | Overseas Best Buy, Inc., Glendale Heights, IL | CITATION |
| 07-09-2007 | LM Services and Scorpion Jammer Technology, Thornton, CO | CITATION |
| 04-20-2007 | North Star Electronics, dba TheElectronicCompany.com, Elk Grove Village, Illinois | CITATION |
| 04-20-2007 | Focus Camera, Inc., Brooklyn, New York | CITATION |
| 04-20-2007 | Fadfusion, Affton, Missouri | CITATION |
| 04-20-2007 | DSMiller.com, Traverse City, Michigan | CITATION |
| 04-19-2007 | Dealznet.com, Brooklyn, NY | CITATION |
| 04-19-2007 | Cybergiftcenter.com, Inc., Duluth, GA | CITATION |
| 04-19-2007 | CompSource, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio | CITATION |
| 04-19-2007 | Chumbo Corporation, Minneapolis, Minnesota | CITATION |
| 04-12-2007 | Buy.com, Aliso Viejo, California | CITATION |
| 04-12-2007 | Audio Discounters, Lewis Center, Ohio | CITATION |
| 04-12-2007 | Audio Direct, Tucson, Arizona | CITATION |
| 04-12-2007 | Ambient Weather, Tempe, Arizona | CITATION |
| 01-31-2007 | Rocky Mountain Radar, El Paso, TX | NAL |
| 01-31-2007 | The Twister Group, Inc., Buffalo Grove, Illinois | CITATION |
| 01-31-2007 | Radarjammers.com, Rolla, Missouri | CITATION |
| 01-31-2007 | Hoeffener International, Webster Groves, MO | CITATION |
| 01-31-2007 | Hilton, AG, LTD, Radar Detectors Direct, Arlington, Texas | CITATION |
| 01-31-2007 | Global Trade Group, Inc., Rogue River, Oregon | CITATION |
| 01-31-2007 | Electronic Retail Solutions, Inc., Greensboro, North Carolina | CITATION |
| 01-31-2007 | Best Radar Detectors, Jackson, New Jersey | CITATION |
| 01-31-2007 | Auto-Radar-Detectors.com, San Antonio, Texas | CITATION |
| 12-22-2005 | COP-USA, Inc., Flushing, New York | CITATION |
| 12-22-2005 | COP-USA, Inc., City of Industry, California | CITATION |
| 06-09-2005 | Grand Trades Co., Seattle, WA | CITATION |
| 11-10-2004 | Netline Communications Technologies, Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel | CITATION |
| 10-20-2004 | Cruz Consulting Group, San Juan, Puerto Rico | CITATION |
