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发帖数: 29846 | 1 A Chinese electronics vendor accused of selling signal jammers to U.S.
consumers could end up leading the market in one dubious measure: the
largest fine ever imposed by the Federal Communications Commission.
The agency wants to fine CTS Technology US$34,912,500 for allegedly
marketing 285 models of jammers over more than two years. CTS boldly—and
falsely—claimed that some of its jammers were approved by the FCC,
according to the agency’s enforcement action released Thursday.
Conveniently, CTS’ product detail pages also include a button to “report
suspicious activity.”
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The proposed fine, which would be bigger than any the FCC has levied for
anti-competitive behavior, not airing children’s shows, or a wardrobe
malfunction, comes from adding up the maximum fines for each model of jammer
the company allegedly sold in the U.S. The agency also ordered CTS, based
in Shenzhen, China, to stop marketing illegal jammers to U.S. consumers and
identify the buyer of each jammer it sold in the U.S.
Selling, buying or using a wireless signal jammer is illegal in the U.S. for
everyone except law enforcement agencies. They’re a direct danger to
public safety because they can prevent citizens from making 911 calls and
first responders from communicating in emergencies, the FCC says. It
regularly cracks down on jammer sellers and users. But CTS so far leads the
pack in proposed punishment, with the FCC applying the maximum fine for each
jammer model the company allegedly marketed.
There are numerous jammers offered on the CTS site, ranging in size from
handheld to a rolling suitcase. One handheld model, made in Guangdong, China
, and priced at US$240, is advertised as having a range of 20 meters, “
ideal for a large room, restaurant, cinema ... Or whilst having a
conversation and you want to eliminate others from using mobile telephones.”
A larger, stationary model with eight antennas is said to cover “all of the
popular wireless RF signals including, 2G/3G/4G mobile phone, WiFi
Bluetooth, UHF, VHF, GPS, LoJack, remote control and so on.” According to
CTS, it is sourced from Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the
Indian Ocean.
CTS has 30 days to respond to the allegations or pay the $34.9 million. In
past actions against violators based overseas, the FCC has used procedures
under the Hague Service Convention, a 1965 multilateral treaty. |
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