Fcc To Vote On Allowing Cellphone Jammers In Prisons
A November 19 vote could let state and local correctional facilities seek permission to block contraband phones, subject to limits intended to protect nearby communications.
The Federal Communications Commission will vote on November 19 on a proposal to allow cellphone signal jamming in prisons, reversing its longstanding opposition to the practice. According to Engadget, the change would let state prisons and local jails choose whether to use jammers to block unauthorized phones; it would not require them to do so.
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Why the FCC Is Considering a Change
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr says contraband cellphones let incarcerated people direct violence and coordinate other criminal activity from inside prisons, The Verge reports. Engadget says the proposed change is intended to stop inmates from using outside contact to continue criminal activity.
Signal jammers are generally prohibited for non-federal users. Engadget reports that the Federal Bureau of Prisons began testing limited “micro-jamming” in federal prisons in 2018. The outlet says the proposal could make similar tools available at state and local facilities while establishing a formal route for federal facilities to jam signals.
Limits on Where Jammers Could Operate
The proposal would require facilities seeking permission to meet technical standards and demonstrate that jamming does not disrupt communications beyond an authorized area, according to The Verge. That would include testing under an experimental license and further testing at the facility before operations begin. The Verge says carriers, FirstNet, public safety coordinators and 911 authorities would receive advance notice of on-site testing, while nearby communities would be notified before deployment.
Those safeguards address a central objection to prison jamming: signals could interfere with emergency services or other communications outside a facility. Engadget also notes earlier concerns that putting more jamming equipment into use could create security risks if the tools were exploited by bad actors.
Debate Over the Proposal
The proposal has support from law enforcement officials, including Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, according to The Verge. The outlet reports that FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez suggested a pilot program when the agency approved a draft proposal last year, citing concern about unintended effects on surrounding areas and the entry of jamming equipment into the US market.
There is also disagreement about what blocking prison phones could prevent. Anonymous incarcerated journalists argued that contraband phones have enabled timely reporting of civil rights violations, The Verge reports. They pointed to evidence sent by phone in connection with a 2024 Justice Department investigation into Georgia prisons. The FCC’s November vote will determine whether the proposed path for authorized jamming moves forward.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.