Bill Summary
The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2019 is a bill that aims to limit the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prevent correctional facilities from using jamming equipment to disrupt wireless communications. The bill defines important terms like "correctional facility" and "jamming system" and outlines specific requirements for the operation of such systems, including limitations on their use and funding responsibilities. The bill also requires correctional facilities to consult with local law enforcement and submit notifications to the Bureau of Prisons before implementing a jamming system. Overall, this bill seeks to allow correctional facilities to use jamming equipment as a means of preventing illegal communication from within the facility.
Possible Impacts
1. If an individual is being held in a correctional facility that utilizes cellphone jamming equipment, they will not be able to make or receive phone calls on their wireless device, limiting their ability to communicate with loved ones or seek help in an emergency.
2. The state or federal government may have to allocate additional funds to cover the cost of implementing and operating the jamming equipment in correctional facilities, potentially affecting their budget and other programs.
3. The correctional facility must consult with local law enforcement and submit a notification to the Bureau of Prisons before implementing the jamming system, potentially causing delays and red tape in the process.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 952 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 952
To provide that the Federal Communications Commission may not prevent a
State or Federal correctional facility from utilizing jamming
equipment, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 28, 2019
Mr. Cotton (for himself and Mr. Graham) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide that the Federal Communications Commission may not prevent a
State or Federal correctional facility from utilizing jamming
equipment, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON FCC AUTHORITY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission;
(2) the term ``correctional facility'' means a jail,
prison, penitentiary, or other correctional facility; and
(3) the term ``jamming system''--
(A) means a system of radio signal generating and
processing equipment and antennas designed to disrupt,
prevent, interfere with, or jam a wireless
communication into, from, or within a correctional
facility; and
(B) includes the components and functionality of a
system described in subparagraph (A), such as--
(i) antennas, cabling, and cable elements;
(ii) the installation, interconnection, and
operation of system elements, power levels, and
radio frequencies carried on the cables or fed
into antennas;
(iii) the radiation pattern of the
antennas; and
(iv) the location and orientation of the
antennas.
(b) Restriction.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law
or regulation, and subject to paragraph (2), the Commission may
not prevent a State or Federal correctional facility from
operating a jamming system within the correctional facility to
prevent, jam, or otherwise interfere with a wireless
communication that is sent--
(A) to or from a contraband device in the facility;
or
(B) by or to an individual held in the facility.
(2) Requirements.--With respect to a jamming system
described in paragraph (1)--
(A) the operation of the system shall be limited to
the housing facilities of the correctional facility in
which the system is located;
(B) if the correctional facility that operates the
system is a State correctional facility, the State that
operates the correctional facility shall be responsible
for funding the entire cost of the system, including
the operation of the system; and
(C) the correctional facility that operates the
system shall--
(i) before implementing the system, consult
with local law enforcement agencies and other
public safety officials in the area in which
the facility is located; and
(ii) submit to the Director of the Bureau
of Prisons a notification regarding that
operation.
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