Johnson said riders “don’t have the right to free speech inside the fare gates.” BART’s cutoff of cell-phone service Thursday in anticipation of a possible protest, he said, represented a “minor inconvenience” to customers.
…The agency did not jam cell signals, which is illegal, but shut off the system – which Johnson said is allowable under an agreement with several major phone service providers that pay rent to BART.
Linton Johnson, BART spokesman – BART braces for evening protest.