Senate Approves Jamming Cell Phones In Prisons

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posted Oct 7, 2009, 9:38 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

The U.S. Senate recently approved of the Safe Prisons Communications Act of 2009, which will allow prisons to jam or block cellular signals to prevent inmates from accessing cellular services. The act grants the FBI and/or state governors the power to request that areas inside prisons be jammed. The act requires the FCC to govern how and where signals can be blocked, to conduct tests to determine the minimum strength necessary to block signals, and to approve all systems before giving states permission to block signals. Only correctional facilities would be allowed to block signals, and all parties involved would have to ensure that the areas surrounding the prisons experience minimal disruption of services. The act still needs to be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives.

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