OTTAWA-Industry Canada said it will continue to prohibit the use of jamming devices following a public consultation on the issue. Radio frequency jamming devices, called jammers or silencers, interfere with or block cellular services in specific locations, such as restaurants or theaters.
The regulatory agency said the reasons behind the decision include concerns that use of the devices could affect public safety, impede personal freedom and impair communications for law enforcement and security agencies.
Industry Canada said it received more than 200 submissions from individual Canadian and 30 submissions from Canadian companies and industry associations on the issue.
Most countries do not allow cell-phone jamming. But a growing number of countries are easing the constraints.
Israel, for one, allows jammers, given its concern that terrorists might use cell phones to remotely detonate bombs. Japan loosened its rules on cell-phone jamming more than two years ago, allowing licenses in some public areas such as theaters. Australia allows limited use of jamming devices under special license.
The Canadian review was prompted in part by electronics companies wishing to distribute imported cell-phone jammers. Current Canadian regulations allow jammers to be licensed for use only by police departments and other security agencies.
Some jamming devices can completely disable a phone; others turn the volume down or even switch it from ring mode to vibrate.
