Lawmakers call on FCC to investigate fake cell towers in Washington, D.C.

In response to reports that foreign actors may have placed surveillance equipment around Washington, D.C., that mimics cellular towers, Democratic leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to crack down on Wednesday.

The cell-site simulators, known as Stingrays, allow users to track cell phone activity and intercept communications. By posing as normal cellular towers, suitcase sized Stingray devices “trick” phones into connecting to them. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it’s detected activity in Washington, D.C., that’s “anomalous” with Stingray usage.

In a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, U.S. Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Frank Pallone, Jr., (D-NJ), the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee; and Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, called for an FCC investigation into the allegations.

“Press reports surfaced earlier this week that the Department of Homeland Security had identified suspected, unauthorized cell-site simulators operating throughout Washington,” the letter stated. “More troubling, it appears that these cell-site simulators could be gathering intelligence on unwitting Americans on behalf of foreign governments. If these reports are true, it marks an incredible security vulnerability in the seat of the federal government.”

The lawmakers continued that the FCC has taken “no action” to address the problem, and foreign actors could now potentially be taking advantage of the FCC’s inaction.

“The FCC should act, consistent with applicable law and regulations, to investigate these allegations and address any unlawful use of cell-site simulators in the Capital and anywhere else they are used in U.S. soil,” the letter concluded.