Home / Technology / FCC Reverses Stance on Prison Jammer Ban
FCC Reverses Stance on Prison Jammer Ban
29 Oct
Summary
- FCC to vote on new rule for prison jammer use next month.
- Rule change aims to block illegal inmate cellphone use.
- Facilities must prove jammers won't disrupt public safety.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is scheduled to vote on November 19, 2026, on a proposed rule change that would permit state and local correctional facilities to employ cellphone jammers. This initiative aims to prevent inmates from using unauthorized mobile devices to continue criminal activities. The potential adoption of this rule represents a major departure from the FCC's previous stance, which had prohibited the use of jammers due to concerns about interfering with emergency communications and creating security risks.
Under the proposed guidelines, any facility opting to use jamming technology would be required to demonstrate that its implementation does not cause harmful interference outside of designated areas. This requirement addresses previous worries about the technology's potential to disrupt public safety signals. In 2025, the Federal Bureau of Prisons had already begun testing similar "micro-jamming" techniques in federal prisons. This upcoming vote could extend similar capabilities to state and local levels, offering a formal pathway for federal facilities as well.
