Poor cell phone reception can happen almost anywhere, including public schools. However, whether there is a specific cause for these signal blind spots has led to much speculation. Some suspect these areas of poor signal may be due to the use of cell phone jammers.
A cell phone jammer is a device that blocks cell phone signal transmission or interferes with cell phone signal reception. It interferes with communications between cell phones and towers by creating interference within the frequency range used by cell phones. Although these devices are illegal to manufacture, import, sell, or use in the United States, some people use them in certain settings, especially schools.
The case of cell phone jammers in schools
In 2015, a school district in Pasco County, Florida, enacted a policy requiring students to turn off cell phones and other mobile devices during school hours. However, when this policy failed to significantly change student behavior, one teacher decided to take more drastic measures.
Science teacher Dean Liptak was unhappy with students being glued to their smartphones in class and not paying attention, so he used a cell phone jammer to solve the problem. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Liptak activated the jammer between March 31 and April 2. At first, the strategy seemed to work, with students using their phones less frequently. However, problems soon surfaced when Verizon technicians discovered that the network near Fivay High School was experiencing interference.
After an investigation, Verizon determined that the interference originated from Liptak’s jammer, which it said not only affected cell phone signals inside the school but also interfered with communications outside the school. Liptak explained that his original intention was simply to reduce student distractions, not to cause trouble or intentionally break the law. He believes that good-intentioned uses should be allowed.
School District’s Response and Legal Consequences
However, the school district disagrees with Liptak’s perspective. Superintendent Kurt Browning made clear in a letter to Liptak that his actions not only potentially violated federal law but also posed a serious threat to safe communications during emergencies. Jammers may prevent students and staff from making 911 calls, which poses a significant risk to school safety management.
Ultimately, Liptak was suspended for five days. Browning emphasized in the letter: “Regardless of your original intention, the use of jamming devices is illegal. Your actions not only interfere with legitimate communications, but may also pose a threat to security.”
Legal and Ethical Issues with Cell Phone Jammers
The use of cell phone jammers is legally and ethically problematic. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), unauthorized signal jammers can interfere with legitimate uses of spectrum, disrupting wireless signals and emergency services that daily life relies on. FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel has made it clear: “You cannot manufacture, import, sell, transport or operate them. Whether for use in businesses, classrooms, homes or vehicles, they are not allowed.”
Additionally, while signal jammers can be used by law enforcement officers in certain circumstances, their use for other uses, particularly in schools, has been controversial. For example, the use of jammers in prisons to prevent prisoners from illegally using mobile phones is still under discussion. In 2019, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton unsuccessfully attempted to pass legislation allowing the use of jamming devices in prisons.
CTIA, the major trade association for the U.S. wireless industry, said that solving the problem of banned mobile phones requires multi-party cooperation and recommended the use of solutions such as managed access systems to intercept illegal calls while protecting legitimate communications. The industry has committed significant resources to helping corrections officials respond to this problem and is working with all levels of government to implement effective solutions.
The worldwide phenomenon of signal jammers
The use of cell phone jammers is not limited to the United States, similar problems exist around the world. For example, ZDNet reported on a French father who used a signal jammer to prevent his children from using social media late at night, but inadvertently cut off internet access for an entire town. Incidents like these highlight the consequences of the inappropriate use of signal jammers, which, even with good intentions, can have an impact on the wider community.
