Brendan Carr plans to let prisons jam cellphone signals
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the agency will vote on November 19th on rules that would allow prisons to use signal jamming. Radiofrequency jammers are generally banned under Section 333 and the Communications Act of 1934, with few exceptions, and Carr has noted they've been permitted for use at some federal facilities already. Carr claims […]
As the Commission takes this historic step to improve public safety, eligible entities pursuing either of the two licensing paths will be subject to technical standards and testing requirements. This includes initial testing pursuant to an experimental license to prove that the jamming solution does not cause harmful interference outside of the designated geographic areas, as well as post-license grant testing at the subject correctional facility prior to beginning operations.
Jamming may occur only within a Commission-authorized “jamming containment area” where wireless device operation is prohibited, and it must not cause harmful interference outside that area.
Additionally, relevant carriers, FirstNet, public safety coordinators, and 911 authorities would receive advance notice of the on-site testing, and nearby communities would receive notice before deployment.
Originally published on The Verge