SF Police Turn Off Cell Service To Prevent Gathering

[mrjarrell]

If they can do it to protesters who are protesting police shootings then they can, (and eventually will) use it against others. And the cell companies will willingly hop in bed with them, as they did in this case. Coming soon to a protest near you....

S.F. subway muzzles cell service during protest | InSecurity Complex - CNET News

 

[Bunnykid68]

Would suck to need a cop or an ambulance in one of those areas only to find out your service was shut down.

 

[gunman41mag]

Would suck to need a cop or an ambulance in one of those areas only to find out your service was shut down.

I would be pissed if I couldn't post on INGO

 

[eldirector]

it would suck to be billed for a service that was not provided. Usually, when you take someone's money and then not provide the service they payed for, it is called theft.

 

[jeremy]

Would suck to need a cop or an ambulance in one of those areas only to find out your service was shut down.

I wonder if you could sue over this?!

 

[jsharmon7]

it would suck to be billed for a service that was not provided. Usually, when you take someone's money and then not provide the service they payed for, it is called theft.

I wonder if you could sue over this?!

Maybe somebody will pursue this against BART. Hit them in the wallet and things will change.

The story says that BART did it and told the providers afterward though. Also, they shut it down because the protestors were planning on creating a disturbance to disrupt transportation service, which they believed would create an unsafe situation. I wonder how the courts would look at BART shutting down service to prevent illegal activity, if that's really what the plan was.

 

[jeremy]

Maybe somebody will pursue this against the cell phone companies. Hit them in the wallet and things will change.

That was what I was thinking. I have to admit I would be fairly angry to have no service for a normal activity, let alone if I needed to place a Call for an Emergency Service...

 

[jsharmon7]

That was what I was thinking. I have to admit I would be fairly angry to have no service for a normal activity, let alone if I needed to place a Call for an Emergency Service...

Yep, maybe you weren't even there for the protest, you were trying to use the transportation service. It sounds like the phone companies had nothing to do with it though, so I edited that part in my post.

 

[RoyalTenenbaum]

I wonder if you could sue over this?!

I am sure that you could have a case if you were in need of emergency services and the shutdown made you unable to reach them.

 

[Westside]

it would suck to be billed for a service that was not provided. Usually, when you take someone's money and then not provide the service they payed for, it is called theft.

I read the article and take it as the police shut down the cell nodes then called the carriers and told them what they did. I don't think the carriers knew about it till after they had already done this.


And I would think once an innocent not at the riot had an emergency and couldn't get help that yes you could sue and probably get some money.

 

[eldirector]

Ah, you are correct, Westside. The BART operators shut down service.

Sounds like the cell providers are victims as well. They should sue for lost revenue (those $0.10 each text messages add up!).

 

[Westside]

Ah, you are correct, Westside. The BART operators shut down service.

Sounds like the cell providers are victims as well. They should sue for lost revenue (those $0.10 each text messages add up!).

I like it lets call them and suggest it. We can split a 25% suggestion fee

 

[sloughfoot]

Calls to 911 still go through, even with shutdown of general cell phone service. I remember reading that in a Emergency services manual for a job I used to have.

It might be a local rule, but if they can do it in Allen County, they can do it everywhere.

It is because so many people do not have land lines in the home anymore.

 

[454puttna]

violation of FCC, prisons can't even block cell service to cons, but you can buy a jammer for about 5k just for fun.

 

[decal1]

If I am reading this correctly (and I'm human so I do make many mistakes) The cell service was shut down at the mentioned stations. Without actually knowing the facts I am going to assume the stations were all underground.

I know that in some underground venues and buildings the actual property owners provide repeaters so that people can get cell service in those areas.
It is provided as a convenience to the customers by the property owner or business. Being that it is being provided as a convenience I guess that the business owner could turn it on/off at their will since they provide it merely as a convenience. I may have missed it but I don't recall reading anything about actually shutting down outdoor cell towers.

Anyway right or wrong it's just a thought.

 

[rambone]

Take your filthy protest back to a Free Speech Zone where it belongs, citizens.

 

[RockofStrength]

"The initial statement from BART said the subway system had asked the wireless carriers to suspend the service in the stations, but Allison later said BART itself pulled the plug and notified the providers after the fact."

Because after all why should a private business's property rights interfere with what the government desires?

 

[snapping turtle]

violation of FCC, prisons can't even block cell service to cons, but you can buy a jammer for about 5k just for fun.

Cell phone jammers are not legal to use in the USA. You can jam GPS and FMRS/grms radios and wifi 2g 3g and now 4g also.

Not legally but since the FCC is not really around like the CB days i don't think anyone is really watching. I have been asked to install them in a few movie places and a couple or conference rooms.

Now getting one from the mid east is rather easy.. They us them all the time since many car bombs were triggered via cell phones.

No longer are they 5K either you can get one starting at 58 dollars. Now to get one that blocks out a section of a city.....You are going to need a real antenna and some real power.

 

[Principal Skinr]

This reminds me of a great headline on deadseriousnews.com. "Egyptian Government Shuts-down Internet, Porn Addicts Riot."

 

[rambone]

Cutting Off Cell Phone Service To Squash Protest Is The Foreign Policy Of Dictators!



[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJKPTSvzoJ4[/ame]