FCC to vote on allowing prisons to use cellphone jammers
The US Federal Communications Commission will vote next month on a rule change that would let state and local prisons use cellphone jammers.
Proposed rule change details
The agency plans to hold its open meeting on November 19 to consider the new regulation. Under the proposal, incarceration facilities could opt in to using the technology rather than being required to do so. This shift represents a reversal from previous policies where the FCC opposed such devices.
Rationale for the policy shift
Officials state that blocking outside contact helps stop inmates from continuing criminal activity through illegal phones. The move would also provide a formal pathway for federal facilities to use jamming tools after testing began in 2018.
Previous safety concerns addressed
Earlier opposition focused on risks to emergency communications and the potential for bad actors to exploit loose jamming tools. The new bulletin notes that these specific concerns are being re-evaluated as part of the upcoming vote.
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