The Electronic Privacy Information Center is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court on its Freedom of Information Act request rejected in federal appeals court. The center wants access to plans of the Department of Homeland Security to shut down cell phone service during emergencies. In 2011 cell phone service was shut down in San Francisco subways to stop a protest. (Ars Technica, August 15, 2015, by David Kravets)
Homeland Security has sole authority in an emergency to shut down cellphone networks if limited to a localized area such as a subway or bridge, to prevent the use of “radio-activated improvised explosive devices.” (The Blaze, August 7, 2015, by Jon Street)