Movie theater owners are aggressively trying to lure movie-goers back into cinemas by petitioning the FCC to allow blocking cell phone service in theaters.

Spearheaded by the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO), John Fithian President of NATO said theater owners "have to block rude behavior" to encourage customers to come back who have stayed home to avoid the aggravation of mobile distractions.

But not everyone is in favor of the move. The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA), a Washington-based cell phone lobby group, is protesting the action saying it would fight any move to block cell phone signals. "We're opposed to the use of any blocking technology, because it interferes with people's ability to use a wireless device in an emergency situation," CTIA spokesman Joseph Farren said.

Most theaters already have no cell phone policies and show announcements before movies to remind patrons to silence or turn off their devices. Some cinemas even ask customers to check their phones at the door. Still for some owners, this petition is the only way to ensure a ring-free and enjoyable movie-going experience.

1. Posted by orangeGSM	Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:36 am
It doesn't seem right, or safe. If cell usage is that heavy, then those are your core customers. Why alienate those customers that are spending money in your business to recruit those that have abandoned it for more luxurious & comfortable home theatres? The Movies used to be an "experience", now it is just a neutral place to meet up and watch a new release. Save the money and lower the ticket prices, or spend the money on big comfortable seats with leg room and possibly personal audio options.
2. Posted by NoSpamHere	Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:30 am
Regarding the idea of "blocking" cell phone usage in theater's... It is NOT necessary to actively "jam" such signals for theater's to block cell phone usage. "Jamming" licensed frequencies would probably be illegal anyway. However, theater's could line their walls and ceiling's with a fine brass mesh to create what is known as a "faraday cage" - that will effectively block radio signals from penetrating. That might be a little expensive retro-fit, but surely not for new construction. But, would be worth the money in anti-cellphone patrons they would get by promoting a cell-phone and pager-free movie viewing experiencing. Basically, it would be like going go a movie in the 1970's when nobody had cell phones or pager's - must less Blackberries and such. I suspect this approach would not require any regulatory approval, since it is pure architechural. As far as the cell phones/pagers would know, it would be like building a theatre in side a cave - they just wouldn't be able to get a signal. I'm suprised that this idea has never been brought-up in the media, since everyone in the RF business knows about this "faraday cage" technique. They even used it on the Discovery channel show "Myth Busters" to test an RF-related myth without interfering with any licensed frequencies. Of course, you won't see anyone from the telecommunications business suggesting this idea, because air-time = revenue.
3. Posted by jlevine	Thu Dec 22, 2005 11:16 am
The blocking of cell phone is able to be done and you do not need to go to the FCC for permission. The fact is it is a very low tech method to remedy this. All the theaters need to do is fabricate an RF cage. Line the theater in copper screen. This is done every day in the radio industry when they are repairing or testing radios. The technician goes into an RF cage and no RF (radio signal) can penetrate the cage. All the theaters need to do is make the cage just a little bigger.
4. Posted by ADSisson	Sun Dec 25, 2005 6:35 pm
AFAIK, blocking in ANY FORM, is illegal. Be it an Electronic Jammer or a Farady Cage. Faraday Cages are meant for use in testing purposes. If I were to need my phone in an emergancy situaition and found that the establishment blocked my ability to do so, the FCC would be notified ASAP. Fines are steep US$11,000/day.

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