FCC Reserves the Right To Search Your Home, Any Time 589
mikesd81 writes "Wired.com reports that you may not know it, but if you have a wireless router, a cordless phone, remote car-door opener, baby monitor or cellphone in your house, the FCC claims the right to enter your home without a warrant at any time of the day or night in order to inspect it. FCC spokesman David Fiske says 'Anything using RF energy — we have the right to inspect it to make sure it is not causing interference.' The FCC claims it derives its warrantless search power from the Communications Act of 1934, though the constitutionality of the claim has gone untested in the courts. 'It is a major stretch beyond case law to assert that authority with respect to a private home, which is at the heart of the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable search and seizure,' says Electronic Frontier Foundation lawyer Lee Tien. 'When it is a private home and when you are talking about an over-powered Wi-Fi antenna — the idea they could just go in is honestly quite bizarre.'"
And I reserve the right... (Score:5, Funny)
Key's under the rug... (Score:1, Funny)
Whew good thing, I don't have either of those technologies in my cave or in my summer home (mother's basement).
Only after they speak with my lawyers... (Score:5, Funny)
Only after they speak with my lawyers Smith & Wesson.
Re:Knowing Government "Intelligence"... (Score:4, Funny)
Uh, he's the one that gets paid legal bills.
He's a lawyer.
Re:And I reserve the right... (Score:5, Funny)
Granted, as long as you post a warning sign in advance.
Or display a EULA after they've been trapped.
Both are valid.
Re:As any ham can attest to... (Score:5, Funny)
Guess it's time to change the frequency on my 5 watt FM transmitter to something other than the local Christian station.
But I just KNOW they like listening to 24/7 Slayer. I just KNOW it.
Other sources of radio frequencies (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Other sources of radio frequencies (Score:1, Funny)
So does this also mean they can search my home if I'm connected to the AC grid, have a microwave or have somehow acquired a quasar?
Where the hell would you keep it [wikipedia.org]?
Huh? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:And I reserve the right... (Score:5, Funny)
That seems as though it would make livestock fences a legal nightmare.
Somehow I doubt thats why the sheep out there are so nervous.
Re:Only after they speak with my lawyers... (Score:4, Funny)
I prefer Messrs. Mausers' oratory style. It projects far better.
Re:And I reserve the right... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Knowing Government "Intelligence"... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Knowing Government "Intelligence"... (Score:5, Funny)
". . . and I am that fool!"
- Gomez Addams
Re:And I reserve the right... (Score:4, Funny)
"All users entering such premise is accepting all liability during this and subsequent visits. The homeowner is under no liability and expresses no warranty for any difficulties the vistor occurs during their visit. Beware: domicile contains lead and all visitors to this domicile accept the risk they may be injured, maimed, or even killed by lead vapor, or the actual lead bullet."
Re:I'd like to see em try it (Score:5, Funny)
The original intent of the FCC legislation was to protect the reception of TV/radio broadcasts and to prevent the safe functioning of electrical equipment.
Boy, was that a bad idea!
Re:As any ham can attest to... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I'm thankful I live in Canada (Score:5, Funny)
Thankfully you seem to have a new President that has intelligence and morals
Who is this guy and how did he get Obama to vacate the presidency?
Re:And I reserve the right... (Score:4, Funny)
I'm not even going to check to see if you're still breathing till I'm changing to my 3rd clip.
I'm only saying that because I care, cayenne8: there's a lot of decaffeinated brands on the market that are just as tasty as the real thing.
Re:And I reserve the right... (Score:3, Funny)
Beware: domicile contains lead and all visitors to this domicile accept the risk they may be injured, maimed, or even killed by lead vapor, or the actual lead bullet.
"Domicile contains substances known by the state of California to kill your sorry ass with extreme prejudice."
Re:Other sources of radio frequencies (Score:3, Funny)
They can have my quasar when they pry it from my gravitationally warped, isotopically transmuted fingers.