FCC Proposes Rule to Allow Prisons to Jam Contraband Cellphones

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr recently announced a proposal to allow prisons to jam contraband cellphones, a move aimed at reducing the threat of violence and crime in correctional facilities. Thousands of contraband cellphones have been seized in prisons across the country, with inmates using them to coordinate violent gang activity and aid criminal enterprises. The proposal, set to be voted on by the FCC on September 30th, would allow correctional facilities to use jamming solutions to combat contraband cellphones, while ensuring that wireless carrier networks are not disrupted.

Key Takeaways:

• The FCC proposes to authorize prisons to jam contraband cellphones, a move aimed at reducing violence and crime in correctional facilities.
• Thousands of contraband cellphones have been seized in prisons across the country, with inmates using them to coordinate violent gang activity and aid criminal enterprises.
• The proposal would allow correctional facilities to use jamming solutions, while ensuring that wireless carrier networks are not disrupted.
• A 2024 study found that prison authorities recovered more than 25,000 cell phones in one year alone.
• Correctional facilities across the United States are plagued by an influx of contraband cell phones that threaten the safety of prison officials and employees, the prison population, and members of the general public.
• Senator Tom Cotton introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the issue of contraband cellphones in prisons.
• A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general has sent a letter to congressional leaders supporting federal legislation to address the issue.
• The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes an authorization framework that would facilitate cooperation between departments of correction and wireless carriers to implement targeted jamming solutions.

Statistics:

• 25,000+ contraband cellphones recovered by prison authorities in one year alone (2024 study)
• 6,000+ contraband cellphones recovered by two participating facilities in one year alone (2024 study)
• Thousands of contraband cellphones have poured into prisons across the country
• 1 year - time frame of the 2024 study cited in the original text

Sources:

• Governor's office: "Sanders Joins Federal and State Leaders to Unveil FCC Plan for Allowing Prisons to Jam Contraband Cellphones" (no date)
• "H.R. 1234 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Cellphone Jamming Reform Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress" (no date)
• State attorneys general letter to congressional leaders (no date)