The Federal Communications Commission has announced a record-breaking fine against Chinese electronics manufacturer and online retailer C.T.S. Technology Co. Ltd. The $34.9 million penalty, which the FCC revealed publicly on Thursday, stems from allegations that C.T.S Technology marketed and sold signal jammers to U.S. customers.

In the FTC's eyes, that's a big no-no. So much so that the FTC will be issuing the maximum fine it possibly can against each jammer model that C.T.S is alleged to have marketed in the United States. That's 285 in total, which it's alleged to have offered up to U.S. consumers for more than two years via the company's websites (some of which it continues to sell today). Worse, the company is alleged to have said that said signal jammers were actually approved by the FCC for use. Spoiler: They were not.

"All companies, whether domestic or foreign, are banned from marketing illegal jammers in the U.S. Signal jammers present a direct danger to public safety, potentially blocking the communications of first responders. Operating a jammer is also illegal, and consumers who do so face significant civil and criminal penalties," said Travis LeBlanc, acting chief of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, in a statement.

Additionally, the FCC reports that C.T.S. sold 10 signal jammers to undercover personnel  not a great way to endear the company to the agency. We should note, however, that it's not just the fault of C.T.S. if a signal jammer happens to end up in the hands of a U.S. citizen. Federal law prohibits marketing, selling, importing, or  most importantly  using a signal jammer anywhere within the United States, save for rare exceptions that only members of law enforcement get to enjoy.

In other words, it might be tempting to bust out the ol' illegally acquired signal jammer in the movie theater, but we suggest you resist the urge.

"To report the sale or use of an illegal jammer, contact the FCC Enforcement Bureau through the FCC online complaint portal or call 1-888-CALL-FCC (or 1-888-225-5322). To voluntarily relinquish a signal jammer, please e-mail [email protected] Additional information, including the FCC Consumer Alert on the jamming prohibitions and the FCC Enforcement Advisory to retailers regarding the marketing of illegal signal jammers, is available at www.fcc.gov/jammers," reads the FTC's announcement.

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