Re: LAW: Wireless interception

Mike is correct that early models of cordless phones could often be
picked up on broadcast radios. Their base stations transmitted just
above the AM broadcast band (in the 1.7 Mhz region). Since then, all
new cordless phones operate on the 46 and 49 Mhz bands, which
generally require a scanner to receive.

However, cell phones still operate in what used to be UHF TV channels
70-83, and it is still possible in some cases to intercept cell phone
calls on a UHF TV set. So much for *that* theory. :-)

I still think my original explanation for the ECPA's distinction
between cordless and cellular phones is the dominant one.

Phil

Phil Karn writes:
 
> Mike is correct that early models of cordless phones could often be
> picked up on broadcast radios. Their base stations transmitted just
> above the AM broadcast band (in the 1.7 Mhz region). Since then, all
> new cordless phones operate on the 46 and 49 Mhz bands, which
> generally require a scanner to receive.
> 
> However, cell phones still operate in what used to be UHF TV channels
> 70-83, and it is still possible in some cases to intercept cell phone
> calls on a UHF TV set. So much for *that* theory. :-)

Actually, all this shows is that the drafters of ECPA didn't anticipate
that TV watchers would use their TVs to overhear cellular conversations.


--Mike

# Actually, all this shows is that the drafters of ECPA didn't anticipate
# that TV watchers would use their TVs to overhear cellular conversations.

I've heared the ECPA described as a "bundle of loopholes", and it is illegal
to watch your TV, if it receives cellular conversation, unless you are 
actively debugging the problem.

Does anyone know the history of the decline and fall of the Third Party Rule?

I used to be of the understanding that it was legal for you to listen
to anything you could detect in your own airspace, you just couldn't tell
(or sell) the reception to a third party.

Is this an accurate statement of what the FCC policy used to be?
Was it EPCA (86?) that destroyed it, or was it chipped away previously?

					thx, strick