What are USCF rules concerning cell phone disturbances ?

How did we ever survive before the invention of the smartphone?

For me, it's not about Luddism or fear of cheating. A single phone call in a large quiet room of chess players will disturb everyone there. Such a disturbance deserves the "draconian" measure of immediate forfeiture.

All electronic devices should be banned from tnmt halls, but the cell phone has the ability to disturb every player at once.

In some  US tournaments, the Open Section is FIDE rated, and, since July, 2014, FIDE rules are supposedly followed.  This means that players in the Open Section cannot bring electronic devices into the playing hall, but players in the other sections can. Players in the Open Section are forfeited.  Players in the other sections are penalized at the TD's discretion.  Interesting situation for the TD.

The casual, obviously. The serious players will moan and groan a bit more, but they will still come and play. The casual players are not addicted enough yet.

The problem is that without the casual players, there isn't enough money to pay the bills, including the serious players' prize fund.  Then, not only do you lose the serious players, the tournament disappears.

Most people, like me, would just rather play online anyway.  Going to tournaments is much more trouble than it's worth.  They're going to end eventually anyhow.

Take a look at the crosstables for recent tournaments.  You will see that the top sections do not take in enough money (multiply entry fee by the number of players) to cover their prize fund.  They are subsidized  by the casual (I prefer the word hobby) players' entry fees, which also pay the tournament's expenses.  Without the hobby players, there would be no tournaments.

I hope this doesnt happen.  Nothing like travelling to new places, meeting new people, seeing old friends, and playing face to face.

Online play is so sterile and uninteresting.

Yes, this is true and the system in the US encourages sandbagging because the strong players are punished . There was recently a tourney here where a master and expert both went home empty handed while the winner of the under 1200 section won money , this is ridiculous imo . 

If i play someone that has one of those electronic scoring devices, i let the TD know that i prefer them using pen and paper.  Most if not all TD's will announce that the devices are allowed, but if the opponent objects to it, they cannot use them.  

Diakonia, do you have a reference for your claim? Is it in the USCF rule book or on their site?

Im sure its not an "official" rule, but i have been to tournaments where if the opponent objects to an electronic score keeping device, the TD will ask that the person use pen and paper.

If the player is using a sanctioned device, they should be allowed to use them. Of course, the TD has the ability to deny it but I would think that absent information posted in the announcement, the devices should be allowed. (anything that doesn't follow standard rules should be spelled out in pre-tourney announcements).

There is nothing in the USCF rules that prohibit their use, even if your opponent objects (again, for sanctioned devices).

Of course they are allowed, but if people do object to the use, they can be asked to use pen and paper.  Even "sanctioned" devices can be hacked. Its naive to think they cant.  I played a guy once that never looked at the board, but always stared at his monroi.  It just seemed weird...and everytime he left th board, he took the monroi with him.  I asked the TD to have him use pen and paper.  He got upset about it but did.

Reb, unfortunately, Diakonia's solution isn't approved by USCF. If you object, you may get a sympathetic TD, but the current rules as far as I can see allow the player to use an approved device, even if the opponent objects.

I know since Wesly So's doodle drama at the US Champion, there has been talk about not allowing the score books, where peopel havce access to past games.  I do know that one time a guy got kicked out of a tournament because he was referring to past game while playing.  

Objecting to official scoring eletronics is silly.  We aren't in the 1850s anymore.  Also, it's my understanding that you aren't allowed to leave the board with the device on you.  If that's not the rule it should be.  I've played opponents who have used these and have never objected.  Heck, I played an opponent at my club who uses a non engine app on his phone to record the moves.  

The rules should be focused on catching and punishing actual cheaters, not treating everyone like a criminal when the few get to lodge complaints not on actual cheating but disagreement about their opponents tech lifestyle.

Here's a link to the official USCF guidelines regarding electronic scoresheets:

http://www.uschess.org/docs/gov/reports/eScoresheets/CertificationGuidelines.pdf