LAS VEGAS – Movie theater owners faced with falling attendance are considering asking federal authorities for permission to jam cell phone reception in an attempt to stop annoying conversations during films, the head of the industry’s trade group said on Tuesday.
“I don’t know what’s going on with consumers that they have to talk on phones in the middle of theaters,” John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theater Owners, told the ShoWest conference in Las Vegas.
Theaters are trying a number of ways to silence cell phones, from sweeps by ushers to funny fake movie trailers urging viewers to shut off phones.
Fithian said owners were considering other steps if that does not work.
“We will actually petition the Federal Communications (Commission) to remove the block” on jamming cell phones, he said.
That may be difficult, since federal law and FCC rules prohibit the use of cell phone jammers.
Source: reuters.com
This is very frustrating. I really hope the FCC stands it’s ground and doesn’t allow Movie Theaters to jam cell phone signals. That’s all we need is some $4.00 an hour kid screwing with the thing when he or she shouldn’t be.
I agree it’s rude that people have cell phone ringers on while a movie is playing. There is a thing called silent/vibrate mode. If they jam the signal it would be very bad if an emergency call came in like a baby sitter trying to get ahold of the parents or something. I put my phone on silent and if someone calls and I need to answer it, I go out into the lobby. Simple. No jamming required.
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Except for any hard of hearing people in the audience, who are unfortunate enough to be using the induction loop while your phone is on silent, and get your phones Click clicking in their ear whenever it searches for signal.
Turn it OFF.
If you cannot be without your cell phone, get the movie on DVD. If you need it for work, or you’re on call, you don’t get to go to movies. Too bad, so sad. Invest in a better home theatre and stay the hell out of public movie theatres.
I now carry a handheld cell phone jammer with me in my bag to all movies now, and it’s been a joy to watch morons try to figure out why they can’t call out. Best $300 I’ve ever spent. However did people get by all those years ago without them, I wonder? Oh, right: they got by just fine.