CANADA CONSIDERS PERMITTING CELLPHONE JAMMING DEVICES
Canada’s federal govt. announced Fri. start of 3-month public consultations on use of cellphone silencer devices that could block mobile phones. Industry Canada said purpose of consultation was to see “whether the public interest would be served if the present occasional authorization of these devices, for law enforcement and public safety purposes, were to be broadened for wider niche market and location-specific applications.” Jamming devices aren’t permitted for sale or use in Canada now because, “in the absence of a license and appropriate technical standards and equipment certification,” their use would contravene Canada’s Radiocommunication Act, said Industry Canada, govt. department that’s in charge of such matters. However, it said it wasn’t “prepared to address a license-exempt status for these devices.”
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Canadian govt. noted that U.S. law bans use of cellphone jammers and said challenge was to balance needs of restaurants and theaters, etc., with concerns of wireless industry on impact of those devices for emergency services. “Added to this balance of needs are radio jamming devices are manufacturers/distributors and entrepreneurs who wish to establish a broader market for these devices,” Industry Canada said. Dept. asked for comments to be submitted by July 12 on specific issues, including: (1) How would public interest be served by supporting those devices? (2) What are potential risks and adverse effects? (3) Should distinction be made between their use in private vs. public places? (4) Should licensing be restricted? (5) Should etiquette protocols be placed in equipment?
Industry Canada spokesman said govt. was “going to gather the widest public views possible on the use of cellphone silencers” and based on those comments it would announce its decision in fall. “I think probably the broadest interest is perhaps in theaters and restaurants where people would like to have their quiet space preserved,” he said.
Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Assn. spokesman said group was opposed to any proposal to allow private jamming systems. “Public safety is our primary concern,” he said. “There are 3 million 911 emergency calls a year in Canada on cellphones. People are purchasing their wireless phones for the safety it provides,” he said. Another industry association, Radio Advisory Board of Canada, had warned Industry Canada that legal problems could arise from general use of cellphone jammers. Assn. petitioned department not to authorize broader use of jamming devices in Canada, saying its main concerns were with blocking of emergency calls, unfair discrimination in blocking users, difficulty in controlling unintended blocking and legal implications of allowing 3rd parties to jam licensed services.