The commission is set to vote next month on easing its long-held stance against jamming devices.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States disclosed today its intention to vote on a proposed regulation to permit state prisons and jails to deploy cellphone jammers. This initiative aims to prevent inmates from using illegal cellphones, which could facilitate ongoing criminal activities by maintaining outside communication.
The agency plans to hold a vote during its public meeting on November 19, discussing whether state and local correctional facilities should have the option to use jammers, though implementation would not be mandatory. Currently, technology that disrupts communications signals is prohibited for non-federal entities. In 2018, the Federal Bureau of Prisons initiated tests of “micro-jamming” technologies in federal prisons to curtail unauthorized cellphone usage. This adjustment could expand similar technologies for state and local facilities, as well as create a formal mechanism for federal institutions to utilize jamming devices.
This marks a shift in policy, as the FCC has historically opposed the use of jammers to combat illegal cellphone usage in prisons. Previous reservations about jamming technology included the possibility of hindering emergency and public safety communications, in addition to raising security concerns regarding the potential misuse of jamming devices by malicious individuals. The announcement today indicates that should the new regulations be approved, correctional facilities must comply with certain criteria, including demonstrating that “the jamming solution does not cause harmful interference beyond the designated geographic areas.”
This decision is not the first adjustment in the FCC’s approach toward prisons since the current administration took charge. In July 2025, the agency announced a postponement on the implementation of a cap on rates charged for phone calls made from prisons.
