Cellphone Jammer Found On Palm Desert High School Campus

Lene hopkins, a senior at Palm Desert High School, knew something was wrong every time she walked by Buiding 5 at Palm Desert High School. She couldn’t call or text with her cellphone. She had no reception.

“You’d try to avoid that area when you’re making calls. I’d tell me my mom I’m probably gonna lose you,” Hopkins said.

On March 31, Federal Communications Commission employees found a cellphone jammer inside a classroom. The teacher installed it without the district or school’s permission.

The investigation into the cellphone problems on campus started with a complaint to the FCC. Using mobile direction-finding techniques, the FCC employees were able to determine the problem was coming from the math building.

Cellphone jammers cost anywhere from $25 to $250. They are illegal without permission from the FCC, which confiscated the device.

“I was glad it is gone because I didn’t have cellphone service,” Hopkins said.

Jammers are also a safety hazard. During an emergency, students, teachers and even police officers couldn’t use their cell phones to call out if needed.

“When things go awry, we need them to have communication also,” said Elena Ortiz, a parent of a senior at Palm Desert High School.

The teacher handed over the cell phone jammer to the feds. If he hadn’t, he could have faced an $11,000 fine. The FCC and the principal gave the teacher a warning.

The teacher likely installed the jammer because of students using cellphones in the classroom. The school has a strict policy against classroom cellphone use. “If there is cellphone use by a student in the classroom they are taken away and parents are notified to come pick them up,” said Palm Desert High School interim principal Maureen Thompson.

Students are allowed to use their cellphone before and after school, during breaks and at lunch.