FCC to Vote on Allowing Signal Jamming Technology in Prisons
The Federal Communications Commission plans to vote on November 19 on a proposal that would permit correctional facilities to deploy signal jammers to block contraband cellphones.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the commission will consider new rules on November 19 that authorize the use of signal jamming technology within prison walls. If approved, the measure would permit institutions to disrupt wireless communications, a practice currently restricted by the Communications Act of 1934 and Section 333, which largely prohibits radiofrequency jamming.
The FCC’s initiative aims to curb the prevalence of illicit mobile devices inside correctional facilities. Carr stated that contraband phones are frequently used by inmates to orchestrate violent acts, manage criminal enterprises, and facilitate illegal operations from within custody.
While federal facilities have received limited exceptions for jamming technology in the past, the proposed rules would establish a broader regulatory framework for state and local prisons. The move represents a significant shift in FCC enforcement policy, balancing long-standing federal bans on signal interference against the security requirements of modern correctional environments.