The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a monetary forfeiture of $34.9 million against a Chinese online retailer for allegedly marketing signal jamming devices to U.S. consumers.
In a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture issued in June 2014, the FCC has charged C.T.S. Technology Company, Limited for marketing and selling 285 different models of signal jammers through its online retail portal for more than two years. The marketing of such devices in the U.S. is illegal under FCC regulations, since they can interfere with emergency communications. However, C.T.S. allegedly informed consumers on its website that certain signal jammer models were approved by the FCC. The FCC says that C.T.S. also sold 10 high-powered signal jammers to undercover FCC personnel.
The nearly $35 million fine is the largest ever proposed by the FCC.
In addition to the proposed fine, the FCC has ordered C.T.S. to cease marketing signal jammers to U.S. consumers, and to provide the FCC with information about persons or entities in the U.S. that may have purchased the illegal devices.
