BART Interrupts Cell Service

[K7SGJ]

Reading some follow up articles today , BART shut off their underground cell sites instead of jamming or other methods of interference. No laws broken there. Well, I guess it's their stuff and they can do what they want.

[NQ6U]

Reading some follow up articles today , BART shut off their underground cell sites instead of jamming or other methods of interference. No laws broken there. Well, I guess it's their stuff and they can do what they want.

I dunno; it could still be considered "willful interference."

[W3WN]

I dunno; it could still be considered "willful interference."

Not within the definition of FCC R&R, again as I understand them.

BART is not, by Federal law (FCC R&R), AFAIK, required to provide repeaters in their underground facilities for cell phone coverage. That the bands most cell phones operate on do not penetrate underground is not their problem, but is an issue with the laws of physics.

Yes, from a non-technical standpoint non-legal, they're interfering with cell phone communication by proxy by turning the repeaters off. But again, nothing AFAIK requires them to provide this extra service.

And as I noted above, I don't agree with this, and I think it's stupid, malicious, and short-sighted. But it's not illegal.

[NQ6U]

Not within the definition of FCC R&R, again as I understand them.

BART is not, by Federal law (FCC R&R), AFAIK, required to provide repeaters in their underground facilities for cell phone coverage. That the bands most cell phones operate on do not penetrate underground is not their problem, but is an issue with the laws of physics.

Yes, from a non-technical standpoint non-legal, they're interfering with cell phone communication by proxy by turning the repeaters off. But again, nothing AFAIK requires them to provide this extra service.

And as I noted above, I don't agree with this, and I think it's stupid, malicious, and short-sighted. But it's not illegal.

I'm not so certain about that, Ron. I do see the point you're making but think that this is something that could end up being argued either at an FCC hearing or perhaps in a civil court if someone has a mind to pursue it that far.

[W1GUH]

Not within the definition of FCC R&R, again as I understand them.

BART is not, by Federal law (FCC R&R), AFAIK, required to provide repeaters in their underground facilities for cell phone coverage. That the bands most cell phones operate on do not penetrate underground is not their problem, but is an issue with the laws of physics.

Yes, from a non-technical standpoint non-legal, they're interfering with cell phone communication by proxy by turning the repeaters off. But again, nothing AFAIK requires them to provide this extra service.

And as I noted above, I don't agree with this, and I think it's stupid, malicious, and short-sighted. But it's not illegal.

"And as I noted above, I don't agree with this, and I think it's stupid, malicious, and short-sighted. But it's not illegal."

Guess you've never commuted next to someone on a cell phone. If you had, you'd realize that almost everybody who gets into an extended conversation in public is self-centered to the hilt. Male or female alike, they all appear as if either 1) Nobody else exists on the planet. or 2) Their words are the epitome of style and substance and are scintillating words that everybody should thank them for letting them listen.

In point of fact...using a cell phone where others can hear you and cannot move away is extremely rude. It's in the same category of really bad breath, BO, and smoking in an enclosed place. Period. And a lot of those people (as has been told to me directly) feel that they are entitled to be rude. They are very short on the socialization scale. How I'd LOVE to record some of the usless, inane, stupid conversations I've heard and make the people listen to their own stupid words...but alas, that's impossible.

I wish that all common-carriers...trains and buses specifically...would use special RF-shielding glass in the windows so that all those jerks that think we enjoy hearing their stupid conversations would just STFU! You got along fine before there were cell phones...you won't die if you don't use yours for a while.

[W3WN]

< snip >
Guess you've never commuted next to someone on a cell phone. If you had, you'd realize that almost everybody who gets into an extended conversation in public is self-centered to the hilt. Male or female alike, they all appear as if either 1) Nobody else exists on the planet. or 2) Their words are the epitome of style and substance and are scintillating words that everybody should thank them for letting them listen.
< snip >

Now, waydaminit here. Don't be puttin' no implications in my mouth... so to speak.

I didn't say I liked the practice, and as a matter of fact, almost every day I run into this very situation. I don't drive into town, I take public transit, and it's sad how many maroons don't realize (or care) that what should be their private conversations, and I do mean private, are being broadcast to the entire bus or "T" subway car. It's almost funny that total strangers will discuss some of the most intimate details of their lives in the earshot of 50 total strangers. Almost.

Yes, it is a rude, self-centered, stupid practice.

But it's not illegal.

I don't like it, I'm offended by it, and I think it's a demonstration of the lack of intelligence & patience in a certain spoiled and self-centered portion of our society and our population.

But it's not illegal.

To get back on point... BART and other public transit agencies do not have a legal obligation, AFAIK, to provide repeaters or similar devices to enhance cell phone communications from underground or other public facilities. That they choose to do so is a courtesy, and sadly, it is a courtesy that is more often than not misused. They don't have to provide the service, and I'd say 99 times out of 100 they should not.

Actively jamming or interferring with cell phones is illegal.

Not boosting them... isn't.

And that's all I have to say about that.

[W1GUH]

Now, waydaminit here. Don't be puttin' no implications in my mouth... so to speak.

I didn't say I liked the practice, and as a matter of fact, almost every day I run into this very situation. I don't drive into town, I take public transit, and it's sad how many maroons don't realize (or care) that what should be their private conversations, and I do mean private, are being broadcast to the entire bus or "T" subway car. It's almost funny that total strangers will discuss some of the most intimate details of their lives in the earshot of 50 total strangers. Almost.

Yes, it is a rude, self-centered, stupid practice.

But it's not illegal.

I don't like it, I'm offended by it, and I think it's a demonstration of the lack of intelligence & patience in a certain spoiled and self-centered portion of our society and our population.

But it's not illegal.

To get back on point... BART and other public transit agencies do not have a legal obligation, AFAIK, to provide repeaters or similar devices to enhance cell phone communications from underground or other public facilities. That they choose to do so is a courtesy, and sadly, it is a courtesy that is more often than not misused. They don't have to provide the service, and I'd say 99 times out of 100 they should not.

Actively jamming or interferring with cell phones is illegal.

Not boosting them... isn't.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Sorry, Ron. I see you DO see the problem.

And it SHOULD be illegal.

[KG4CGC]

"And as I noted above, I don't agree with this, and I think it's stupid, malicious, and short-sighted. But it's not illegal."

Guess you've never commuted next to someone on a cell phone. If you had, you'd realize that almost everybody who gets into an extended conversation in public is self-centered to the hilt. Male or female alike, they all appear as if either 1) Nobody else exists on the planet. or 2) Their words are the epitome of style and substance and are scintillating words that everybody should thank them for letting them listen.

In point of fact...using a cell phone where others can hear you and cannot move away is extremely rude. It's in the same category of really bad breath, BO, and smoking in an enclosed place. Period. And a lot of those people (as has been told to me directly) feel that they are entitled to be rude. They are very short on the socialization scale. How I'd LOVE to record some of the usless, inane, stupid conversations I've heard and make the people listen to their own stupid words...but alas, that's impossible.

I wish that all common-carriers...trains and buses specifically...would use special RF-shielding glass in the windows so that all those jerks that think we enjoy hearing their stupid conversations would just STFU! You got along fine before there were cell phones...you won't die if you don't use yours for a while.

I understand what your saying. They literally are yelling into their phones like it was a 1950s long distance phone call. Not necessary, the microphone in a modern cellphone is VERY sensitive and you can speak quietly into one and be perfectly understood. If the signal is breaking up, it's not because you're not yelling loud enough! I have to turn off the TV or radio when on a cellphone because the mic picks that up better in some cases than my voice, which is mere centimeters away from the mic.

[n2ize]

"And as I noted above, I don't agree with this, and I think it's stupid, malicious, and short-sighted. But it's not illegal."

Guess you've never commuted next to someone on a cell phone. If you had, you'd realize that almost everybody who gets into an extended conversation in public is self-centered to the hilt. Male or female alike, they all appear as if either 1) Nobody else exists on the planet. or 2) Their words are the epitome of style and substance and are scintillating words that everybody should thank them for letting them listen.

In point of fact...using a cell phone where others can hear you and cannot move away is extremely rude. It's in the same category of really bad breath, BO, and smoking in an enclosed place. Period. And a lot of those people (as has been told to me directly) feel that they are entitled to be rude. They are very short on the socialization scale. How I'd LOVE to record some of the usless, inane, stupid conversations I've heard and make the people listen to their own stupid words...but alas, that's impossible.

I wish that all common-carriers...trains and buses specifically...would use special RF-shielding glass in the windows so that all those jerks that think we enjoy hearing their stupid conversations would just STFU! You got along fine before there were cell phones...you won't die if you don't use yours for a while.

Well, you can do as a friend of mine used to do. When confronted with a rude person on a cell phone he would confiscate it from them. At the end of the trip he would politely give it back and remind them to be more courteous next time. Amazingly he never got in any trouble. Of course it might have helped that he had the build and appearance of a grizzly bear.

As for me I agree they are rude. I just don't let them bother me.

[W1GUH]

Well, you can do as a friend of mine used to do. When confronted with a rude person on a cell phone he would confiscate it from them. At the end of the trip he would politely give it back and remind them to be more courteous next time. Amazingly he never got in any trouble. Of course it might have helped that he had the build and appearance of a grizzly bear.

As for me I agree they are rude. I just don't let them bother me.

Gimme a break, John. You KNOW what would happen if an ordinary person tried that. Cheesh

"As for me I agree they are rude. I just don't let them bother me"

Easy for you to say. When you catch a 5:55 AM train everyday and almost everyone else on the car is quiet, it's impossible to "let it ride" for a hour -- at least. Sure, a subway ride downtown...yea....probably not even trying to sleep & anyway it's only a few minutes.