I don't go to movie theaters. In fact, I think the last time I went to a movie theater to see a first run film was a couple of years ago when my wife and I received some free movie passes as a gift from a friend, and so went to see (loathe as I am to admit it) Scooby-Doo. We check out movies from the public library (Harris County does a good job of getting relatively current DVDs) or, once in a great while (perhaps three times in the last five years) renting them from Blockbuster. Otherwise we wait for thm to show up on commercial television.

Even more than cost, the main reason we don't go to movie theaters is the fact that medical issues cause my wifeto have a difficult time sitting that long in an uncomfortable theater seat with folks crawling over her in the dark.

But if we did go, I have totell you that the following story would be reason enough for me to quit going.

The National Association of Theater Owners wants the Federal Communications Commission to allow the blocking of cell phone signals in theaters.

John Fithian, the president of the trade organization, told the Los Angeles Times theater owners "have to block rude behavior" as the industry tries to come up with ways to bring people back to the cinemas.

Fithian said his group would petition the FCC for permission to block cell phone signals within movie theaters.

Some theaters already have no cell phone policies and ask moviegoers to check their phones at the door, Fithian said.

I don't think so. I'll put my phone on vibrate, but I won't check my phone at the door. And I sure as hell won't go someplace that would have the audacity to block me from receiving or making an emergency call unless using the phone endangers the lives of others (like at a hospital). For theaters to demand a special exemption from laws prohibitting the blocking of cell phone signals is obscene.

Posted by: Greg at 11:53 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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