Another * way to "Grow the Economy"

[No Mandate Here.]

Make everyone buy a new garage door opener...

Air Force Radios Jam Garage Door Openers
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: May 20, 2004

Filed at 7:25 a.m. ET

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AP) -- A new military radio system is jamming remote-control garage doors in communities near this Florida Panhandle base.

During testing last week of the $5.5 million two-way radio system at Eglin, homeowners in Niceville, Valparaiso and the Crestview area reported that their garage door openers failed to work.


Air Force officials said Tuesday the contractor, Motorola Inc., will try to minimize the problem. Technicians will run the system at slightly different frequencies from those used by garage door openers when another test is conducted Friday through Monday.

``I want my garage door opener to work, too,'' said Col. Russell F. Miller, commander of the 96th Communication Group.

Lauren Van Wazer, a spokeswoman for the Federal Communication Commission, said if the Air Force has been running the system within its licensed frequencies -- the Air Force said it has -- then users of garage door openers may have to change theirs.

A similar radio system has been requested for Pensacola Naval Air Station and other nearby installations, according to a Navy spokesman.