National Decima poll reveals Canadians split over the issue of cell phone jammers

Canadians are divided over whether the federal government should legalize cell phone jammers, according to a new nation-wide poll conducted by Decima Research Inc for Report on Wireless. The random sampling of 2017 Canadians, conducted between March 16 and 25, found that nearly 50 per cent of respondents oppose authorizing the devices, while 43.3 per cent say they should be allowed for specific purposes. People that didn’t know either way measured in at 7.3 per cent. The survey is considered accurate within +/- 2.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20. "There’s no question Canadians are divided over the issue," says Keith Neuman, senior VP at Decima Research in Ottawa. "I expect public opinion will become more crystallized as Canadians learn more about the technology and how it can be used." The survey reveals that British Columbians and Quebecers are more likely to accept the use of cell phone jammers with 49 per cent and 48.3 per cent respectively indicating that they should be legalized. Saskatchewanians are at the opposite end of the scale, with only 37 per cent supporting such a move. Law enforcement agencies are currently the only ones allowed to use the units for public safety reasons. Of those who said cell phone jammers should be allowed, most agreed there should be some limitations in certain public places. Theatres, classrooms and hospitals ranked in at the top, while use in restaurants garnered two-thirds support. Respondents were divided down the middle when it came to using jammers in sporting venues (see chart). Along gender and language lines, the respondents present some interesting figures. Men were nearly split down the middle in terms of legalization, while a majority of women, 51 per cent, said that the devices shouldn’t be legal. The numbers were similar when looking at language as a determining factor with French-speaking Canadians split at 47 per cent on the "no" side and 48 per cent for the "yes", while Anglo Canadians were more in favour of maintaining current restrictions on the devices. Cell phone ownership also played a factor in determining respondents answers. Support for legalized cell phone jamming devices was quite low for households that already own a cell phone at 39 per cent, while 49 per cent of households without a cell phone showed support for legalized devices. Neuman suggests that the absence of more crystallized views of cell phone ownership suggests consumers haven’t developed clear ideas of the issue or its implications. Comments to Industry Canada show division Since the issue was opened for public comment a couple of weeks ago, Industry Canada has received numerous submissions from Canadians expressing their opinion on whether the use of the devices should be broadened for commercial and private use (RoW, March 19/01). Like the Decima poll, the submissions also indicate that Canadians are divided over the issue. The majority of comments against the use of the cell phone jammers cited the need to maintain emergency communications between doctors and hospitals or parents and those at home. Among those opposing legalization, most agree that the need to maintain an emergency communications link far outweighs the rights of restaurant patrons who are annoyed at people who talk too loud on their cell phones. Of those against the legalization, they say the government should first launch a broad public awareness campaign promoting the proper etiquette of cell phone use. They suggest using "no cell phone" signs, akin to ‘no smoking’ signs in theatres and restaurants, as one way to get the message across. Others say the government shouldn’t use legislation to combat what is essentially bad manners. Some intervenors insist that bad-mannered people have always been that way and if they talk loud on their cell phone in a restaurant, chances are they talk loud anyway. On the other side of the debate, many of the respondents wrote that the "emergency situation" ploy was simply an excuse and that doctors and parents managed to stay in contact before the advent of cell phones. They say leaving the phone number of the restaurant or theatre worked before and can work again. Some view ringing cell phones or loud tele-phone users as an invasion of their privacy. One person who wrote into Industry Canada noted that smoking restrictions in public places only became effective when local governments made no-smoking sections mandatory. A vast majority of Decima Publishing subscribers are in favour of letting the wireless carriers list a separate line item on the bill indicating the new 4.5% contribution tax they have to pay under the new contribution regime. However, a minority would support relaxing the R&D contribution payments that PCS spectrum licence holders have to pay. The online poll was conducted from Feb. 28 to March 19.

National Decima poll reveals Canadians split over the issue of cell phone jammers

News | 04/03/2001 4:00 am EDT

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