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From: russ@alliant.com (Russell McFatter)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Neighbor Bugs Family By Eavesdropping
Message-ID: <2197@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 14 Dec 89 23:50:31 GMT
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Reply-To: Russell McFatter <russ@alliant.alliant.com>
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 9, Issue 576, message 2 of 11


In article <2111@accuvax.nwu.edu> msa3b!kevin@gatech.edu (Kevin P. 
Kleinfelter) writes:

>What if he gets one one the same frequency, and puts it next to his
>stereo (which he leaves running 24 hours a day)?  Who gets priority?
>Is this a first-come/first-serve situation?

There are actually plenty of FCC regulations to cover situations of
this type.  The general overview, as I understand it, works like this:

Although FCC regulations even prohibit low-power (Part 49) stations
from causing intentional interference to each other, it's very
unlikely that they would get involved in such a case.  One of the two
stations would have to prove not only that the interference exists,
but that the intent of the other party is malicious.  Even if a formal
complaint were filed with supporting information, the FCC's first act
would usually be to suggest a peacable, voluntary coexistence
(possibly by getting one of the stations to switch to a different
frequency if possible).  Beyond that, a civil suit would probably have
to be filed to get any action.

What, then, of the guy with the baby monitor next to his stereo?
Nothing will probably happen to him, unless the neighbors decide to
take him to court (where, if they can prove intentional interference,
the FCC's regulations will be on their side).  Many questions would be
asked in such a case: Was the defendant using this setup for a
legitimate purpose, or purely to harass and annoy?  (Did he listen to
the monitor's receiver 24 hours a day?)  Was it actually necessary?
Did either party consider alternate measures, such as a wired
intercom, or remote (wired) speakers for the stereo?

The cost of doing all this would most likely outweigh (by a few
thousand times) the cost of a wired intercom.  How many people bought
a CB radio and gave up on it because of all the interference and
noise?  The baby monitor in this case would probably end up in the
attic next to the CB.


Russ McFatter  [russ@alliant.Alliant.COM]
Std. disclaimer applies.