WiFi interference and the FCC

[Jeff]

I asked about interference to the 2.4 WiFi band, likely from a nearby "dirty" transmitter or certainly one which is not sending a WiFi SSID. WiFi is SOL.

"You are receiving this email in response to your inquiry to the FCC.

Thank you for contacting the FCC.

The FCC does not investigate incidental interference to devices in this service. Not only is NO interference protection given to this service, the service must accept interference that may be caused by the operation of other, authorized radio service(s).

FCC Rules Part 15 addresses interference as follows: 15.5 General conditions of operation. [EXCERPT]

(a) Persons operating intentional or unintentional radiators shall not be deemed to have any vested or recognizable right to continued use of any given frequency by virtue of prior registration or certification of equipment (b) Operation is subject to the conditions that no harmful interference is caused and that interference must be accepted . . . (c) The operator of a radio frequency device shall be required to cease operating the device upon notification by a Commission representative that the device is causing harmful interference. Operation shall not resume until the condition causing the harmful interference has been corrected. [END EXCERPT]

Regards,
Representative Number : TSR36"

[Mike]

Your tax dollars at work.

Soon after we moved to this house, we started getting robocalls from various services, in direct violation of FCC telemarketing rules--three or four times a week. I went online and used the complaint form.

The FCC responded with "No violation found."

[Judy G. Russell]

"Regards,
Representative Number : TSR36""I can't do that, Dave..."

[Jeff]

Your tax dollars at work.

Soon after we moved to this house, we started getting robocalls from various services, in direct violation of FCC telemarketing rules--three or four times a week. I went online and used the complaint form.

The FCC responded with "No violation found."

Back in my salad days I had a HAM radio license; WA0AEO, and part of getting that license from the FCC was to have branded on my eyelids the regulation that if my transmissions interfered with anything anywhere at any distance from my house my shortwave transmitter would be tied below my belt and turned on at full power. Now I guess I could operate my neighbor's garage door with impunity.

[sidney]

Back in my salad days I had a HAM radio license; WA0AEO

Well, then you had a license they could pull, so the FCC had a way of enforcing rules. They probably still enforce violations on licensed frequencies.

Now I guess I could operate my neighbor's garage door with impunity.

You probably can. It may be officially against the rules to operate a transmitter with too much power at those frequencies, but it seems like part of the trade off of making them free and open is that it is wild and woolly and you get what you get.

[Mike]

...I had a HAM radio license
Heh, I remember when people were required to get a CB radio license! (Many people didn't, and eventually the FCC gave up.)