U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) at left and U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) have introduced legislation, the Safe Prisons Communications Act of 2009. The legislation would allow the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a state Governor, or a Governor’s designee (depending on whether the facility is federally or state operated) to submit a petition to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting permission to operate a jamming device in a particular correctional facility. In determining whether to grant the petition, the FCC would consider among other criteria, whether the jammer would interfere with emergency or public safety communications outside prison walls. The FCC would test and approve devices for use in correctional facilities.Sen. Hutchinson noted, “This legislation will fight criminal enterprises behind bars and will protect innocent victims and public officials from harassment and threats from criminals.” In fact, Texas authorities say that death row inmate Richard Tabler used a smuggled cell phone to make threatening calls to a state senator. Also, authorities report increasingly brazen attempts, such as using slingshots, to propel cell phones over prison walls for unauthorized use by inmates. Read the official announcement on this proposed legislation on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation’s website.The NEBS/Telecom Forum on Interference Technology.com fields questions and comments on every aspect of the rapidly changing telecom industry. Whether you’re looking for testing services, the right component, or the applicable standard , just post your query and tap into the expertise of some very knowledgeable readers.
Proposed Federal Legislation Would Foil Felons’ Cell Phone Use
