http://upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?St...7-074635-6362r

Theater owners want cell phones blocked

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The National Association of Theater Owners wants the Federal Communications Commission to allow the blocking of cell phone signals in theaters.

John Fithian, the president of the trade organization, told the Los Angeles Times theater owners "have to block rude behavior" as the industry tries to come up with ways to bring people back to the cinemas.

Fithian said his group would petition the FCC for permission to block cell phone signals within movie theaters.

Some theaters already have no cell phone policies and ask moviegoers to check their phones at the door, Fithian said.

The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association -- a Washington-based cell phone lobby that is also known as CTIA-the Wireless Association -- said it would fight any move to block cell phone signals.

"We're opposed to the use of any blocking technology, because it interferes with people's ability to use a wireless device in an emergency situation," CTIA spokesman Joseph Farren told the Times.

I support this. Some asshole had his phone ring about 5 times while watching King Kong and he didn't have the common sense to turn it off.

I also hate those boost mobile phones with the walkie talkie feature bullshit

This is a good step in the right direction, now if they could only find a way to block noisey children.

Teens are the worst all I see is lights and people texting while we are trying to watch the movie what the hell

No. "Little Timmy is in the emergency room. I tried to call you, but couldn't get through."

I'd rather theaters brought back ushers and expelled rude people. The problem is people's lack of courtesy, not the telephones.

I'm against this for the same reason implied by Farren. Emergency situation.

What I'd rather have is a no tolerance act and a theater usher in every screening. If your phone goes off or your kid or whomever starts yapping. You get escorted out of the theater with no refund. None of this asking politely shit. Just poof, you're gone without having to leave your seat to find a theater manager. And theater owners have to have the balls to follow thru.

During my screening of Kong a family started up right at the beginning talking f'n loud. I went to nip that shit in the bud real quick because I ain't putting up with audio commentary from some 5 - 7 year olds while their parents have already tuned them out.

This is the only reason I can think of that they shouldn't block cells. I still think it's a good idea.

Screw 'Little Timmy'. He's in the emergency room, I'm sure they're doing all they can.
Check on him after the movie.

"... but then I left a voice message. Glad you got it and responded to it when you got out of the theatre. You couldn't do anything but worry for that time anyways as Timmy's life is in the doctors hands."


What did we ever do before cell phones? The problem is that folks are bringing their home habbits with them. Watching a movie in the background while talking on the phone or just having it be nothing important that they could chat about.

the little flash screens with text messaging annoy me a great deal also.

As long as they have it posted, I'd be all for this.

If you're in a situation where you need to have your phone on, don't go to a fucking movie.

I want seat kickers blocked. I want commericals blocked. I want talkers blocked. Get me all four of those and maybe I'll go back to the movies again.

Yup. We did just fine before cel phones, and you can always check your messages as soon as you leave the theater, something we couldn't do back then. I don't want to sit in a theater full of people worrying about Little Timmy, each of them checking their phones once or twice during the movie. If you're afraid the sky might fall because you can't be reached for two hours wait for the DVD.

Oh, and I assume you always carry a spare battery and never leave the service area.

Emergency situations weren't a problem pre-cell phone days. They can get up goto a payphone and call the sitter.

I agree that cell phones are a nuisance, however I disgree with across the board policies on anything. There's always some situation that breaks the rule.

I DO believe on common courtesy, though. I always turn off my cell phone before I go into a theater, but I understand not everyone will remember and I halfway expect that. It is up to the theater to enforce those rules, but coming from the side of a person that worked as an usher, it's not always 100% possible to enforce everything at all times.

Most theater managers are reluctant to do anything severe to the cell phone people because while a person who is offended by the cell phone talker would harbor bad feelings for the offender, a person who is reprimanded for their cell phone usage would harbor bad feelings towards the theater itself and its employees.

Yes, block them.

How would you know when a phone call is an emergency?

Blocking cells would be one huge step in the right direction to peel me away from my home theater and back to the multiplex. People are inconsiderate assholes.

Seat kickers are one of the main reasons I stopped going to theaters as well. While I always speak up the moment I feel my seat get kicked (somewhat politely) it bothers the shit out of me.

Talkers, commericals, & seat kickers are all reasons why the theater will NEVER be able to get most people to go back.

It's funny; I've never had a problem with cell phones. It has always been talkers.

every phone accepts and sends text messages

leave your phone on vibrate and tell people to notify you of emergencies via SMS

I'm all for blocking cell phones in theaters and in no way buy into the "oh what if an emergency happens and someone needs to call me?" line. We survived long before cell phones turned millions into mannerless asses...I'm sure people can handle 2 hours in a theater without using one. If not, stay home where you can watch a DVD on your couch while yapping/texting away on your cell.

Personally I'd like to see cell phones blocked in other public places, namely restaurants. Nothing like enjoying the atmosphere of a classy restaurant only to have the ambiance broken by the constant cutesy ringtones of obliviot cell phone owners.

Same here also with seat kickers. I do not think they should be blocked as emergencies can happen at any time no matter what anyone says. I would say that the possibility of checking your phone at the door could chase away moviegoers once stories of lost or damaged phones start spreading.

Personally, I want the rude idiot parents who let their kids run screaming up and down the aisles blocked long before I want cell phones blocked.

That being said, provided that a business has it clearly posted that they are using a cell phone blocker, they should be able to use them. (I think that the idiots who walk around with the hand-held blockers should get their asses kicked, but a business should be able to do it if posted).

Ban the things!

That's why the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin is the greatest theater in the country. During King Kong Friday night, some noisy teens were kicked out 20 minutes into the movie.

What did we do before movie theatres? We survived then didn't we?