On Thursday, June 18, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it plans to issue a fine against C.T.S. Technology Co., Limited (C.T.S.), a Chinese electronics manufacturer and online retailer, for allegedly marketing 285 models of signal jamming devices to U.S. consumers. The FCC also ordered C.T.S. to take certain remedial actions to come into compliance with federal law.

The FCC applied the maximum fine allowed to each jammer model allegedly marketed by C.T.S., resulting in a planned fine of $34,912,500, making it the largest fine in history. In addition to the fine, the Commission is ordering C.T.S. to cease marketing illegal signal jammers to U.S. consumers and provide information to the FCC about any persons and entities in the U.S. that purchased its devices.

“APCO congratulates the FCC for the action it is taking against C.T.S.,” said APCO President Gigi Smith. President Smith continued, “this high-profile enforcement action serves as an important reminder and caution to manufacturers and the general public alike, that federal law bans the marketing, importation, and use of signal jammers, period. And there is very good reason for this clear prohibition – simply put, operation of signal jamming equipment can directly and immediately endanger the safety of the general public and first responders. Whether jammers operate to prevent wireless calls to 9-1-1, disrupt emergency dispatch and first responder communications, or interfere with many other forms of communication including GPS, we fully support the FCC’s heightened attention to combatting this illegal and dangerous activity.”

To view the Notice of Apparent Liability and Order issued by the FCC, visit http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2014/db0619/FCC-14-92A1.pdf.

APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)

APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole.