Contraband Cell Phones in Prisons  

CTIA Position:
The illegal use of wireless phones in prisons is a serious problem. The wireless industry and corrections community share the same goal of stopping the use of contraband cell phones by prisoners. The fundamental issue is that wireless phones are a contraband problem, not a telecommunications policy issue. Wireless carriers support attacking the underlying supply of and demand for contraband cell phones in prisons through lawful and currently available solutions, such as cell detection and managed access technologies, and increasing penalties to deter smuggling.

Key Points:

• Signal Jamming Technology Used to Block Cell Phone and Other Radio Communications is Illegal in the US. With the limited exception of authorized use by the federal government and its agencies, the operation of signal jamming technology stands in direct violation of Section 333 of the Communications Act. Section 333 provides that “no person shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communication.” Therefore, the wireless industry urges the Federal Communications Commission to initiate aggressive enforcement actions against those who manufacture or market devices to interfere with wireless telephone and other radio communications, and deny pending and future requests to “test” devices that would violate the Communications Act.
• The Use of Signal Jamming Equipment Can Cause Harmful Interference to Wireless Service for Public Safety First Responders, Wireless Carriers & Customers. The real world use of jamming equipment shows that, for all but the most remote facilities, people simply walking or driving by a facility with an activated jammer could suffer degraded or disrupted wireless service. In Brazil, for example, a jamming device in a prison knocked out wireless service to 200,000 nearby residents. In India, a jammer at a prison disrupted service to people living within a five kilometer radius. The nation’s leading public safety organizations, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), have expressed concern about deploying jammers at correctional facilities due to the likelihood of impairing first responders’ and consumers’ use of their wireless devices in emergency situations. This is precisely reason Congress limited jammers to only authorized federal users.
• Lawful Cell Phone Detection Systems, Managed Access and Other Technologies are Superior Solutions to Signal Jamming Equipment. Like a scalpel, lawful cell phone detection technologies provide prison officials and law enforcement the opportunity to identify the location of a contraband cell phone, track its use, retrieve the device and prosecute those in possession. Cell phone detection technology also can be used to identify how – and by whom – these contraband devices are being smuggled into facilities. In addition, managed access systems allow corrections officials to prevent inmates from accessing carrier networks without impacting service for legitimate wireless users. Detection devices and managed access solutions don't block legal wireless subscribers or public safety officials from using their devices. Such technologies are cost-effective alternatives to jamming that can be – and are being – deployed today.
• Improved Deterrence is Key to Stopping the Supply of Contraband Wireless Devices. Increasing the penalties against those smuggling wireless devices for a profit is an important step to help halt the supply of contraband mobile devices. State laws should make absolutely clear that providing a wireless phone to an inmate, or the possession of a phone by an inmate, is an offense that will be dealt with severe punishment and hefty penalties.