Federal regulators are preparing to reverse a long-standing prohibition against signal jamming devices inside correctional facilities. The Federal Communications Commission announced plans to vote next month on a proposed rule that would give state and local prisons and jails the option to deploy cell phone jammers. The policy shift aims to target the use of illegal contraband cellphones by inmates, which authorities say facilitates ongoing criminal operations from behind bars.
Under the proposed framework slated for the November 19 open meeting, incarceration facilities could voluntarily opt in to utilizing jamming technology, though implementation would not be mandatory. Non-federal entities have historically faced strict bans on deploying any technology that interferes with communications signals. While the Federal Bureau of Prisons began testing micro-jamming techniques in 2018, the upcoming vote could establish a formal pathway for wider federal adoption alongside state and local facilities.
Historically, the commission maintained firm opposition to signal jammers due to fears that the equipment could disrupt public safety communications and emergency signals. Regulators also worried about the proliferation of jamming tools that could be co-opted by malicious actors. To mitigate these risks, the newly drafted rules would require correctional facilities to satisfy specific technical standards, including demonstrating that their jamming configurations will not create harmful interference outside prison boundaries.
The regulatory pivot represents a notable shift in the agency's approach to correctional technology oversight. If approved, correctional administrators will gain a powerful new tool to combat contraband communication networks, provided they can strictly contain the signal disruption to designated geographic zones within their facilities.
FCC to Vote on Allowing State Prisons to Use Cellphone Jammers
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