Tech
Brendan Carr plans to allow prisons to jam cellphone signals.
Publication: The Verge
Author: Stevie Bonifield
Source published: 28/10/2026, 18:57:02 UTC
Briefing created: 28/10/2026, 19:32:13 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 28/10/2026, 19:01:25 UTC.
Briefings
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced a vote on November 19, 2026, to permit prisons to use signal jammers. This would allow facilities to block contraband cellphones, which Carr claims are used by violent offenders to coordinate gang activity and criminal enterprises. The FCC notes that jammers have already been permitted for use at some federal facilities.
Key points
- FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced a vote on November 19, 2026, to permit prisons to use signal jammers.
- Radiofrequency jammers are generally banned under Section 333 and the Communications Act of 1934, with few exceptions, and Carr has noted they've been permitted for use at some federal facilities already.
Context
The FCC is considering rules allowing prisons to jam cellphone signals to prevent contraband from entering facilities. Carr cites thousands of contraband cellphones entering prisons and their use by violent offenders to coordinate gang activity and criminal enterprises.
Limitations
Evidence is limited to Carr's announcement and FCC rules; specific prison locations, numbers of jammers deployed, or outcomes of the vote remain unconfirmed.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 28/10/2026, 19:32:13 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
View archived briefing on IPFS
bafybeibrorb4qog3lxeoswrtta3olpy4jmtaqrivv55dtdctvxzfhgvn7a