Government claims right to cut off cellphone service
A recent news story surprised some people who clearly haven’t been paying attention to what the Obama Administration has been up to for more than six years now. It did not surprise patriots.
It has been revealed that the U.S. government has a secret plan to cut off mobile phone service during what it calls “critical emergencies.” Known as “Standing Operating Procedure 303,” it allows for the shutting down of wireless networks “within a localized area, such as a tunnel or bridge, and within an entire metropolitan area.”
A federal appeals court has asked the Obama Administration to explain why the government should be allowed to keep secret its plan to shutter mobile phone service. This suggests that the appellate court might rehear a case that was originally decided in favor of the government.
This is not a hypothetical situation. During a protest in San Francisco in 2011, mobile phone service in the San Francisco Bay Area subway system was shut down for three hours. The government did not want protesters communicating with each other during the event.
Now, I realize that some protests do get out of hand and that law enforcement sometimes needs to step in to gain control of the situation before innocent people get hurt. But what about the texts and phone calls that could not be placed that would have been sent as warnings to some of those innocent people caught up in the protest?
And if the government has the authority to cut off cellphone usage anytime it wants to, it’s just a matter of time before this authority gets used to discriminate against its political enemies, even if they are involved in perfectly lawful activities. This sets a very dangerous precedent in a country where individual rights are already being trampled upon.
Do you believe the government should have the right to shut off cellular phone usage whenever it deems necessary? I’d like to hear from you about this important topic.
As a now retired 30+ year veteran Deputy in Florida, our cellphones had a second (NAM) chip in them. In a hurricane, (or other “big” disaster,) the powers to be could shut down cell service to “regular” users. But cellphones with the 2nd chip was programmed to transmit information along with it’s signal that would allow our phones to still work. Not quite sure HOW that worked, maybe sub-audible tones, or ASKI-II digital information. But it worked when we tested it. (Once every year we did the tests with different cell carriers, to test.) Like the do each month with the EBS tests.
FYI-I “paid” one of the IT guys to put a NAM chip in my personal cell phone also. It only cost me 2 cases of Heineken beer. STILL have that phone too!
I have relatives who think I’m an idiot, an alarmist, too negative. They are very uncomfortable when I “preach my fears and concerns for our beloved U.S.A.”. Now, you can only imagine the reaction from acquaintances and strangers when I mention my concerns to them.
It’s obvious to me that far, far, far too many Americans have already been captured and have been enslaved by materialism and whatever makes them instantly feel good…….NOW.
I hate to say it; but, the imminent financial collapse is the only hope we have in that that disaster will do the trick. It will wake us up; and , we will be forced to fix the system. The COMFORT ZONE will be history. BACK TO BASICS AND FUNDAMENTAL VALUES. GOD PLEASE HELP US.
More things can be cut of than any body knows about. In 1973 , a test was done on CSX RR entire system from VA to Fla all communications, all electrical parts (AC / DC power) and all telephones were cut off. We worked for 2 days round the clock trying to find problem, then at 9 am 3 th day we were told to go home all was turned back on. 2 weeks later we were told do not leave office all day. All stuff was turn off again. at 8 am. back on at 3 pm. We were never told who done all this or why, but all employees I talk too believe it was a test done for gov, CSX is big partner with gov. CSX owns, maybe sold by now, Greenbiar Resort, under it is/ was a secret gov facility, very large, to house Congress, a tourist place now . I do believe we are the employers of Congress, we should be told what they want to do to things we have and pay for. All this spying is not what we pay them for. Have just found out, if you buy a new appliance, you are being spied on. These new devices can listen to you talk, can ID things you put in them, can notify a store if you are almost out of milk and can tell gov if you have money in your home. This is going to far. We should not buy anything new for at least a year or longer and when they ask why no buying, tell them stop spying on us.
First of all we “the people” pay for our service to a Private/Publicly owned service provider not the government. So no government and especially the one in the USA “LAND OF THE FREE—NOT ANYMORE” should have the right to cut our phone service that we paid for. Regardless of what is going on in an area that is to be shut down there are far more law abiding people who may need the phone to make an emergency call. With most people doing away with land lines this is our main source now. There is no REASON, non, nada, zilch, etc etc that should be used as an excuse to do so. And JAY its people like you that rationalize giving the government more power to “CONTROL A FEW BAD APPLES” and that’s why we are in the shape we are now. Has everyone forgot the old saying’s: “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, “Give them an inch and they will take a mile”.
By the way This President already has been given the power to “DECLARE MARTIAL LAW” thereby suspending the Constitution, Elections, Congress and making him dictator. We can only hope some little something doesn’t happen before he gets out of office for him to “Justify” using this power. But then we have to worry about every President from this point on also.
It seems wrong untill you find out almost all IEDs are triggered by a simple cell phone call. If the Gov finds out about a location of a home made bomb, they can shut down only the towers in that area.
hell no damn nazi’s
Obama thinks he can trample our rights and time he feels the need. Hi doesn’t have that right, and it’s about time the courts start stopping him. He wants to behave like a dictator, and thinks no one has the balls to stand up to him. Unfortunately, he’s been right so far. The courts have the power, but not the balls to stop him.
I love how everyone wants to blame 1 president for all the garbage going on now but you need to start looking who took the first shot at destroying the Bill of Rights. W was the 1st Prez in my view to do so with Patriot Act. He virtually destroyed 3 of them and now Obama is doing his part. STOP BELIEVING ALL O THEM!!!! In order to be a politician you have to be able to lie, cheat, and steal. It doesn’t matter who the Prez is, Republican (joke),Democrat (bigger joke), THEY ARE ALL DOING THEIR PART TO DESTROY THE BILL OF RIGHTS!!!!!! People need to start putting their political differences aside and unite!! All the Gov and Media is doing is trying to keep us divided cause if we all unite they know they are in trouble.
PS Im tired of being the worlds police too and Im a Marine!!!!
Carlos Castellucci, USMC
Dear Frank,
This is a “double edged sword issue.” Sure we can all imagine times when a particular area needs to be “shut down” for reasons of imminent danger, such as terrorists running a muck planting cell phone detonation IED’s or other organized chaos attacks requiring cell phone communications between the perpetrators.
The remedy for the state is a bit complex, but can be done legally, even in an emergency situation, The answer is … OBTAIN A LEGAL WARRANT.
The only exception is when there is “imminently catastrophic and exigent circumstances” that occur without any warning or time to react And, those exigencies will have to be proven to have existed or the government actions are illegal and they can be held liable.
Times have really changed in the past 20 years! These days law enforcement can apply for and receive a search and/or seizure “E-Warrant” in a matter of an hour or less, All they have to do is provide sufficient probable cause by email. Their assertions can be challenged by the judge via a secured, real time, chat format just as if the officers, witnesses and informants were on the stand.
Police obtain such warrants all the time now days, especially to search vehicles suspected of transporting drugs or other contraband. However, police must still establish “probable cause” … not just search based on their “gut feeling” or that their dog “alerted” to something not in plain view.
It is not like back in “my day” (before internet, email and cell phones) when we had to type up a detailed “hard copy” affidavit and warrant application … find and wake up a judge … everyone gather at the court house … wait around to see if the judge even cared enough to get out of bed … then spend another couple hours giving affirmative testimony, topped off with waiting around for the DA to draft the warrant specifics and the final approval and signature by the grumpy and impatient judge … etc., etc., etc.
However, we are ow living in the era of “His Majesty Barack Obama,” backed by his HLS Gestapo Forces and other bureaucratic agency minions … all of whom ignore the Constitution that they are sworn to defend to the death.
(Everyone seems to forget that violating that oath is a FRIGGING CRIME!)
So, yeah … today this corrupt and immoral government can shut down cell phone systems, utilities, roads, water (virtually anything) , anywhere, any time, irregardless of who may suffer and be put at risk, Examples; EMS, police, fire, hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers and citizens in need of immediate help, bla bla bla.
As far as the Obama Gang goes, it is just tough noogies if those in need happen to be in the geographic area the government elects to arbitrarily shut down “For the greater good!”
These are dangerous and frightening times in our beloved USA. Our only hope is prayer and our power to vote the power mongers out!
God Save America,
Orrin
Again it is more than just OBAMA trying to destroy the Bill of Rights. Read my lat message above.
Carlos Castellucci
No the government should not have this power. The already have too much control as it is. Next will come the internet, which the keep trying for through FCC, and then we can’t even talk to each other this way.
You have to remember in todays world, government will do what it wants to. We the people lost control in nineteen seventy five. The only thing we are good for today is tax dollars, so that they can take care of the world, and screw us, and no they should not be able to shut down cell service. But those are the rhings that happen in a third would country.
You have to remember in todays world government will do what it wants to. We the people lost control in nineteen seventy five. The only we are good for today tax dollars, so that they can take care of the world, and screw us, and no they should not be able to shut down cell service. But those are the rhings that happen in a third would country.
Why in the world would the govt be allowed to do this ESPECIALLY in an emergency?? This is another act of treason upon us and will put all of us in even more danger. This administration is drunk on power. God help us!! Can we make it through until the end of this administration?? They have over a year left to terriorize all of us. This is the scariest time in all of history. With all the false flags, immigration issues of muslims and big O’s obvious hatred for the people of this country, its gonna be a wild and horrific ride!!! May God bless all those whom are worthy, and for the rest, may the devil have his full dues.
Step 1 unnecessary, and too much of the most grabbing gov.
Obama (Barry Soetoro) is absolutely the worst president America has ever elected. And…no…I’m not racist. Jimmy Carter was the worst president before Obama came along. America is in financial and intellectual ruin and it’s going to take some very brave, freedom loving people to turn it around.
They shut the cell phones off during the Bundy ranch protest so they are already doing this. Totally wrong and illegal in my opinion.
You can not depend on anything that can be shut off by anyone else.
They should not do this, it can create issues for people who would be counting on cell service who are not involved with the issue that is causing the shutdown. How would you feel if grandma needed to call 911 and could not?
I say let’s shut off service to Camp David, his wife’s phone and her two precious children’s phone. Then shut off Secret Service phones, then culminate that with 1600 pensylvania ave. service going off. Let’s see how that works for him. Sounds like a plan to me. Heh the SS wouldn’t be able to call their prostitutes, knuckleheads that they are.
Why is anyone surprised? It happened immediately during the 9/11 attacks. I am always dumbfounded when people just give up their landline.
I agree.
Hell no they shouldn’t be able to, they already have too much control over what we do, or can do, if that so called president don’t leave office this country is going to be totally ruined