The air waves are not "FREE" anymore if that were true scanners would still
be sold with
cell coveraqge

And its the communications act of 1996

(g) It shall not be unlawful under this chapter or chapter 121 of this title
for any person--

(i) to intercept or access an electronic communication made through an
electronic communication system that is configured so that such electronic
communication is readily accessible to the general public;

(ii) to intercept any radio communication which is transmitted--

(I) by any station for the use of the general public, or that
relates to ships, aircraft, vehicles, or persons in distress;

(II) by any governmental, law enforcement, civil defense, private
land mobile, or public safety communications system, including police and
fire, readily accessible to the general public;

(III) by a station operating on an authorized frequency within the
bands allocated to the amateur, citizens band, or general mobile radio
services; or

(IV) by any marine or aeronautical communications system;

(iii) to engage in any conduct which--

(I) is prohibited by section 633 of the Communications Act of 1934;
or

(II) is excepted from the application of section 705(a) of the
Communications Act of 1934 by section 705(b) of that Act;

(iv) to intercept any wire or electronic communication the
transmission of which is causing harmful interference to any lawfully
operating station or consumer electronic equipment, to the extent necessary
to identify the source of such interference; or

(v) for other users of the same frequency to intercept any radio
communication made through a system that utilizes frequencies monitored by
individuals engaged in the provision or the use of such system, if such
communication is not scrambled or encrypted.


"honestjohn" wrote in message
news

"labtech1" wrote in message
...
FBI investigates illegal reception of radio transmissions, this includes
cell phones etc

However the FCC DOES 'regulate' receivers...... look on ANY radio and
see
the
"FCC type approved' sticker on it. ANY radio must be 'approved' by the
FCC
before it can be sold in the USA

To insure that the oscillator in the radio doesn't transmit those
oscillations beyond a certain distance from the receiver. The FCC will
never tell anyone what they can or can't listen to. The airwaves are
"FREE"
and anyone can listen to anything that they want. The problem only comes
when you repeat what you hear on police frequencies. Plus unscramblers
are
not receivers, only an audio accessory to a receiver. The Feds only
investigate people SELLING modified receivers for cell phones, not the
buyers.

H.J.