At a round‑table in Little Rock on Wednesday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, and U.S. Senator Tom Cotton announced that the FCC will hold a vote on November 19 to consider final rules allowing state and local correctional facilities to employ cellphone‑jamming technology. The proposed rules would not mandate the use of jamming, but would give prisons and jails the option to block contraband cellphones that enable inmates to coordinate violent crimes, run illegal enterprises, and exploit children.
Why the FCC is Acting
Officials stressed that illegal inmate cellphones pose a serious threat to correctional officers, other inmates, and the public. According to Griffin, thousands of such devices have entered prisons nationwide, facilitating murders, gang violence, and the creation of child sexual abuse material. “We must give correctional facilities the tools they need to stop this activity,” Griffin said.
Legislative Support
Sen. Cotton praised the upcoming vote as a “clear win for the American people” and urged Congress to pass his Cellphone Jamming Reform Act, which would codify the FCC’s authority. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who attended the earlier September announcement, was also cited for her leadership on the issue.
What the Rules Would Do
If adopted, the FCC’s rules would allow, but not require, prisons and jails to deploy jamming equipment that disrupts the frequencies used by illegal cellphones. The agency has previously authorized a range of solutions, such as signal‑blocking walls and managed‑access systems, but has not permitted full‑scale jamming until now. Carr emphasized that the approach would be “aggressive, but responsible,” and that facilities could choose whether the technology is appropriate for their specific circumstances.
Local Impact
Arkansas correctional institutions could be among the first to test the new capability, potentially reducing incidents of inmate‑initiated violence and protecting vulnerable victims. Law‑enforcement officials in the state welcomed the move, noting that it aligns with ongoing efforts to curb prison‑based criminal activity.
Next Steps
The proposed rules will be circulated to the FCC Commissioners on Wednesday and will be debated at the open meeting on November 19. After the vote, the agency will issue a final order that could pave the way for correctional facilities across the country to adopt jamming technology where deemed necessary.
Background
In September 2025, Griffin, Cotton, Governor Sanders, and Carr first announced the FCC’s intent to consider jamming rules. Later that month, Griffin led a coalition of 23 states in a letter urging the FCC to move forward. The current announcement marks the first formal vote on the matter.
Original reporting: KATV Little Rock (local) — read the source article.
