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Fixed Wireless Business

Fighting Malicious Interference

Members of the ISP-Wireless discuss dealing with a competitor who knows they cannot yet roll out Wi-Fi service and is determined to jam the unlicensed spectrum.

[September 24, 2002]

On the ISP-Wireless list in August, GM asked,

"Has anyone dealt with malicious interference issues? A competitor using traditional broadband technology is actively trying to put me out of business: they've set up an 802.11b access point and are aiming it right at my antennas so I can't reach any of my customers. They're not trying to roll out broadband over 802.11b. When I confronted them with the issue, they simply said that's business. How should I deal with this?"

Some respondents looked at the technical side of the issue:

[LY noted] "If they have an AP pointed at your AP, they won't be doing anything to your signal, because an 802.11b AP doesn't transmit very much unless there is a device making requests of it. Now, if they have rigged the system to be in antenna-alignment mode or something non-standard such that the AP constantly transmits a signal across a piece of the spectrum, then I'd say that they are attempting malicious interference. You can try changing channels so that you do not hear them. You can also sectorize your antennas and leave a void in the direction from which they are transmitting, such that you do not hear them."

[JS agreed] "I doubt they are just pointing an AP or wireless NIC at you: that won't cause interference unless the device is transmitting. They may have gotten some type of noise generator or even a run-of-the-mill cable tester which they hooked up to the antenna with an amp to squash out your signal. Are you absolutely sure they are attacking you from the RF front and not the 802.11b? Maybe they have associated with your network and are ping flooding your AP? If it's 802.11b-based, you might just need some MAC filtering."

Others considered the viability of taking legal action:

[SC advised] "Call the Feds. I'm sure that both the FCC and FBI would find it interesting that someone is willingly disrupting a communications network: it's most likely a federal offense. Be sure to get pictures."

[LY added] "Check your state's computer laws: you may find that there is a law that prevents companies from intentionally disrupting computer networks. You might be able to win a lawsuit on that basis if you can prove that they are intentionally jamming your signal."

[TW noted] "I suspect that if you go to the cops and say, 'These people are running this equipment with no function other than to make mine fail,' they might be willing to tell those clowns to knock it off. I would also try to find a lawyer and judge to issue a 'cease and desist' order."

[AG countered] "Folks, as long as this interference is within Part 15 limits, there's no legal recourse. You must accept interference. You're better off spending your money on PR than on a lawyer."

Still others suggested that it's best to look at it as a PR battle:

[MK offered] "Just tell your customers that the company has placed a device to interfere with their connection to you, and have them call. Explain you have done your best to resolve this interference with them already, but without success. Explain that your customer will not be able to use his equipment until the deliberate interference is removed. It's a PR game and you're a leg up by being in service already and having existing customers."

[TC agreed] "Give your customer base their phone number and their contact names, and let your customers take it from there. Explain that these are the people who have deliberately interrupted your network, and that you've tried to get them to stop, but they refuse. If the point for them is to win customers, they'll get a half a dozen angry phone calls from people telling them they'll never deal with them, and they'll see this as a negative plan."

[JK added] "Also involve the local Chamber of Commerce. Have one of your business customers bring it up at the next meeting. Portray this competitor as victimizing the entire area, not just you. Once you get some in the community on your side, then maybe involve some of the newspapers."

[TW offered] "Contact all the local media, tell them what is happening, and see if you can generate some publicity for these creeps. Maybe even provide a press release: 'Unable to compete by honest means, a company has decided to kill off a local small business by vandalizing their service.'"

JT added one other course of action to try:

"The first thing to do is talk to the president or owner of the company you are having trouble with. Most likely, he has some low level techs that think it is a good idea to make some trouble. Once you explain what is going on, he will most likely solve the problem for you. Discussion with serious people is better than adding to confusion. If that fails to solve the problem, then at least you have a clear fight."

—End