FCC to Vote on Allowing Signal Jamming in U.S. Prisons

The proposed rules would dismantle long-standing federal bans on radiofrequency jammers, which have been largely prohibited since the Communications Act of 1934. Carr maintains that the equipment is necessary to stop inmates from ordering hits and facilitating external criminal enterprises. Officials like Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr have championed the shift as a vital public safety measure.

However, the initiative has met resistance regarding the technical risks of deployment. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez previously urged a cautious approach, suggesting a pilot program to identify potential unintended consequences for non-federal networks. Critics, including incarcerated journalists, argue that the crackdown serves a secondary purpose: silencing reports of abuse. They point to the 2024 Department of Justice investigation into Georgia’s prison system—a probe triggered by evidence of inhumane conditions shared via contraband devices—as proof that these phones serve as a critical link to the outside world.

If approved, the FCC plans to implement a licensing framework requiring prisons to adhere to strict technical standards and rigorous testing. This would establish a path for non-federal entities to legally deploy jamming equipment, marking a significant departure from decades of federal policy.