12:46 PM: According to BART, their Board “directed staff …to refine the draft cell phone service interruption policy for possible future action.”
You can read the current version of the policy here. “The revised version is expected to be posted on bart.gov before the Board considers any action on the policy,” says BART.
You can watch video of the discussion here.
9:50 AM: As widely reported in past months, BART came under significant fire ever since it decided to cut off cellphone service in response to a planned protest against the shooting death of 45-year-old Charles Hill.
Now, as the Ex reports, the day is finally here where BART’s board of directors will vote on an “official” policy to determine when/if it’s appropriate to essentially do what they’ve already done.
You can read a draft of the policy here, which proposes that cellphone service be shut off in the event of “the most extraordinary circumstances.”
By “extraordinary,” they say they mean “strong evidence of use of cell phones as instrumentalities in explosives; to facilitate violent criminal activity or endanger District passengers, employees or other members of the public, such as hostage situations; and to facilitate specific plans or attempts to destroy District property or substantially disrupt
public transit services.”
According to ABC7, “critics say BART is laying the groundwork for government repression of free speech.”
Here’s the complete agenda for today’s Board meeting, which began at 9 AM today.
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