Image: sxc.hu
More In This Article
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) shut down subterranean cellular phone service on August 11, stifling protests that had been set to take place on its train platforms that day. Demonstrators had planned to stop trains from running in response to the fatal shooting of an unarmed passenger by the BART police on July 3. But without the ability to coordinate their efforts via cellphones, acts of civil disobedience never crystallized.
In the days since, a media firestorm has ensued over a perceived violation of civil liberties by transit system officials. A hacker group has targeted BART, and the Federal Communications Commission has begun an investigation. All that aside, though: How exactly did BART disable cellular service, and could it happen elsewhere?
On Friday afternoon, BART officials said that they had switched off the transit system's base stations, disabling its underground wireless network. (Officials initially claimed they had asked wireless service providers, such as Verizon and AT&T, to disable service, and later acknowledged that they had cut service themselves). As a result, for approximately three hours, commuters riding BART trains were unable to surf the web, use their phones or dial 911.
BART's wireless service is provided by a company called WiFi Rail. According to its web site, the WiFi Rail network utilizes a backbone of fiber-optic cables that run throughout the underground transit system. These connect a network of wireless access points, routers and switches. Because BART privately owns and operates this underground network, BART officials have the power to switch it off.
The situation is very different above ground, where cellphone service emanates from towers operated directly by Verizon, AT&T and the other wireless service providers. Control of that service doesn't pass through a middleman, as it does underground in the Bay Area.
• How Do You Shut Down Internet in a Whole Country?
• What Were the Worst Subway Attacks in History?
• How Are Voicemails Hacked?
© 2011 TechMediaNetwork.com. All rights reserved.
See what we're tweeting about
13 Comments
Add CommentI have a different question: could terrorists shut-off cell communications remotely?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCut off 911? That part, regardless of the other pros and cons, doesn't seem the right thing to do.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThey "pulled the plug" - so to speak. And by doing that seriously overstepped their authority.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThey pulled the plug on their own equipment. That is perfectly within their authority. However, the question arises as to why BART is providing this service instead of the telco's. To disrupt service without warning is dangerous since it does affect 911 service which is required by law. I assume there are no longer land lines (public telephones) avaialble in the BART underground anymore?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNot only terrorist I'm afraid ...anybody with some grudge might just slip past their security and bring the switches down.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSince the systems are interlinked with other networks (that is the whole idea of the network) there most probably will be a loophole somewhere.
Only problem is, that if you bring them down (and potentialy endanger a lot of BART users), you'll most certainly trigger the biggest manhunt since Bin Laden.
Does this mean that Obama is going to order to U.S. Military to conduct air strikes on BART?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI mean, it was bad when Egypt did it, why is it ok when we do it?
-Ken
There's no cellphone service in the tunnels of London's Underground system (though there have been various trials) and of course my phone can reach cell towers when on the above ground portions of the system ...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this... as far as I know there's no requirement for BART to provide WiFi or cell coverage (but I'm perfectly prepared to admit I haven't studied their charter/licence/whatever) so if their equipment is switched off for maintenance, is broken, or is switched off to prevent civil unrest, then I suspect that it is perfectly legal, if inconvenient.
There are pay phones in the BART stations. There are also emergency phones that connect to Station Agents, as well as 2 intercoms in each car that connect to the driver. Either of these would result in much quicker emergency service than 911, since they would simply connect you to BART officials.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAlthough I am not privy to the details of BART's network design, I believe this article makes a fundamental error of conflating BART's WiFi service w/ the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/19/MNGF2FR6C11.DTL>Nextel-installed network of microcell repeaters</a>. Please see <a href="http://twitter.com/EFFaustin">@EFFaustin</a>'s synthesis and legal analysis here:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this<a href="http://effaustin.org/2011/08/statement-on-san-francisco-bart-cellphone-service-shutdown/">http://effaustin.org/2011/08/statement-on-san-francisco-bart-cellphone-service-shutdown/</a>
My comment above reformatted.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAlthough I am not privy to the details of BART's network design, I believe this article makes a fundamental error of conflating BART's WiFi service w/ the Nextel-installed network of microcell repeaters.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/19/MNGF2FR6C11.DTL
Please see @EFFaustin's synthesis and legal analysis here:
http://effaustin.org/2011/08/statement-on-san-francisco-bart-cellphone-service-shutdown/
unarmed passenger? Not true, in the video recording from the platform you can see the knife being thrown at the officer just before he shoots the guy.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"That doesn't seem the right thing to do." __??? Cutting off access to emergency services for ANYONE is not just "a bad idea" - it's an act which could AND SHOULD put the BART personnel who are responsible IN JAIL.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf there isn't already a law in Screwed UP California making this a first degree felony, then Californians have to get off their butts and ensure there IS ONE pretty darned quick. "Private rights" have gone too far, it's time to get some PUBLIC RIGHTS re-established. While they're at it, Californians ought to re-establish the priority of defending one's life and the lives of their families. Cal. has a backward system for issuing concealed pistol licenses. Over thirty other states threw out exactly the system for "CPLs" California has - long ago and have been using the "Shall Issue" and "Castle" Doctrines with complete success and with no rise in gun crimes.
Meanwhile, California: make an example of these BART morons. Fire them and then try them for first degree felony - depriving people of their right to access emergency services.
To BillR:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am no attorney. But most rapid transit authorities are paid with taxpayer dollars. Therefore, it should count as a public utility. And to stifle a protest (which is protected by your first amendment rights) is a clear violation of the Constitution. What makes it worse is that taxpayer dollars are being used to stifle your rights. It is NOT within their right. Again, I am not a lawyer. But this is my interpretation.