Broadband jamming indiscriminately saturates the entire ISM band (2400-2483.5 MHz), wiping out co-channel communications.
| Statutory Tier | Federal Statute | Interference Scope | Statutory Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor / Warning | 47 U.S.C. § 302a | Incidental spillage under 10m, no critical device knocked offline | Notice of Apparent Liability; $11,000 fine per day |
| Substantial Civil | 47 U.S.C. § 333 | Willful jamming of neighbor's Wi-Fi / cellular access (10m - 25m) | Equipment seizure + $30,000 to $75,000 forfeiture |
| Severe (Federal Felony) | 47 U.S.C. § 501 / 18 U.S.C. § 1362 | Uncontrolled blast (40m+), disabling residential 911 VOIP or medical sensors | $155,000+ per citation; Asset forfeiture; up to 10-20 yrs prison |
Context: Engadget Investigation & Public Safety Evidence
As reported by Engadget: "A Bluetooth jammer might seem like a fix for a neighbor's loud music, but using one can lead to serious legal consequences far beyond simple noise control."
Because RF waves propagate spherically according to the Inverse Square Law and penetrate standard gypsum drywall, a signal potent enough to drown out a speaker 15 meters away simultaneously radiates in all directions, disrupting baby monitors, insulin pumps, cardiac pacemakers relying on 2.4GHz BLE telemetry, and home Wi-Fi across adjacent units.
Research evidence snapshot: September 2026. Legal citations verified under FCC 47 U.S.C. §§ 301, 302(a), 333, 501, 503, 510; 47 C.F.R. § 2.803.