Verizon Pushes FCC to Turn Off LA Office Tower's Lights

Yesterday, I did not realize fluorescent lights could disrupt wireless communications. Ah, what a difference a day makes. A piece in today's theverge.com reported on issues Verizon has experienced with a Los Angeles office tower illuminated with the offending light bulbs. Initially, Verizon had to identify the source of the service disruption. After some sleuthing, the wireless provider determined the Ernst and Young Plaza structure was the culprit. Verizon complained to the FCC, and the Feds began to hondle with the building's owners.

Image: gelighting.com

The problem has not yet been resolved, according to theverge.com's story. What's curious about the episode is the FCC's involvement. At first blush, one would assume wireless cases would naturally fall into the Federal Communication Commission's purview. Not so fast. Sometime in the FCC's history, the agency became the regulatory agency for fluorescent light bulbs. According to theverge.com's piece, these particular lights "are regulated by the FCC since they fall under 'industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) equipment.'"

You can't make this stuff up.