FCC Chair Proposes Letting Prisons Jam Illegal Cellphones as Agency Prepares Key Vote

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr is pushing to allow state and federal prisons to deploy cellphone jamming technology, a significant shift from the agency's long-standing resistance to such devices. The FCC will vote next month on a proposal that would relax restrictions, enabling correctional facilities to block contraband phone signals that fuel criminal activity behind bars. Carr argues that illegal cellphones in prisons pose a serious public safety threat, enabling inmates to coordinate crimes, intimidate witnesses, and run drug operations from inside. Currently, prisons rely on less effective managed access systems, but jamming would provide a more decisive solution. The move faces opposition from wireless carriers and public safety groups concerned about interference with legitimate communications outside prison walls. If approved, the rule change would mark a major policy reversal, reflecting growing bipartisan pressure to crack down on contraband devices. The upcoming vote could set a precedent for how the U.S. balances security needs with spectrum integrity. A final decision is expected within weeks, and its impact will be closely watched by law enforcement and telecom stakeholders alike.