mearle@pro-party.cts.com (Mark Earle) (03/18/90)
Re: Cellular reception. It is emphatically NOT illegal to own/possess a receiver cabable of receiving CMT calls. It *is* illegal to intercept such a call. BUT, some of the CMT frequencies are shared with non-CMT services, which ARE legal to receive. The usual non-disclusure/make gain from interecepted comms apply, of course, as with any intercepted communications. I believe that to advertise privacy of communications, the CMT vendors ought to scramble/encrypt the communications. Instead, they've made the system technically easy to intercept. Here's why (w/a TEXAS viewpoint, remember!) Originally, CMT was proposed to use low-height, low powered "cells". The call would pass from cell to cell, and the same frequency could be used several times, say at the north and south ends of a given town/metro area. Well, in reality, putting in 80 to 100 sites proved a costly investment. So, they (CMT providers) went for 2-3 "super sites". In San Antonio, Cellular One and Southwestern Bell each have 2 sites (Cells). In Corpus Christi, they each have ONE. There are sites in outlying areas, but you don't get switched to those sites unless you are in very close proximity (30 miles or so away from the main site). Also, the earpiece feedback of the mobile's mouthpiece is aparently done at the central site...meaning that by listening to the BASE signal from the cell, one hears BOTH sides of the conversation. Now, think about that...I can (potentially) listen to a nice, high, STRONG signal, hear BOTH sides of a conversation...and since the signal is so strong, I only need a simple antenna (i.e., I can do the deed from anywhere without being obvious). So, I don't doubt for a moment that CMT calls are intercepted. Playing devils' advocate: If I wish to intercept your CMT calls, first, I find out if you're Cell 1 or SWB-narrows the channels to listen to in half. Then I find out your CMT number. Listening to the base signals, I can find most of the calls TO your phone. Calls you originate are toughter, but not impossible. For a rate cheaper than a typical detective charges, your CMT calls *could* be intercepted. (The detective charges 'field' rates. This work could be done at an "office" rate). Oh, yeah: CMT calls are private, right? That's what the ECPA says! So go ahead, make deals and dates, knowing that congress has protected your sensitive communications with the shield of a law, largely un-enforceable. Mark Earle Cute saying goes here..... from Pro-Sparlkin, Corpus Christi, Tx