APCO: Take ‘Aggresssive Action’ Against Jammers

The illicit use of cellular phones by prison inmates has prompted wardens to examine if radio jamming equipment would help provide improved security for the facilities and personnel, but right now such equipment is illegal under FCC rules. After The District of Columbia Department of Corrections requested a Special Temporary Authority to test such jamming equipment, the FCC granted permission (pdf) (later revoked), provided the jamming equipment doesn’t interfere with surrounding cellular service. However, that wasn’t enough for the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), who wrote a letter (pdf) asking the FCC to take “aggressive enforcement action against entities that manufacture, import, market or use” jamming devices. The group said it was worried that, “use of these devices will block 9-1-1 calls from wireless telephones, creating a serious threat to the safety of life and property.” The group also suggested that cellular jamming equipment, “could also interfere with public safety radio communications in adjacent frequency bands.” The DC test was later called off in the face of opposition from the Cellular Telecommunications & Information Association (CTIA). Also read the pending federallegislation that would make radio interference permissible within prisons, and a press release from radio gear company CellAntenna Corp. Update: On March 17, 2009 the FCC denied another CellAntenna request to test jamming gear, this time at the Pine Prairie Correctional Center (La.), noting (pdf) that the Communications Act doesn’t provide for the FCC giving permission to interfere with radio signals.