South Carolina and other states ask FCC’s OK to jam prison cell phones

A Southern prison official says correctional leaders from more than two dozen states have signed a petition asking permission to jam cell phone signals inside state penitentiaries and thwart inmates’ forbidden phone calls.

South Carolina Corrections Director Jon Ozmint said his petition was filed Monday with the Federal Communications Commission. He said it bears signatures from corrections directors in 25 states and three cities.

Ozmint says contraband cell phones allow inmates to communicate and plan other crimes. Inmates in several states have been accused of doing just that.
   
Under current law, however, the FCC can only allow federal agencies - not state or local authorities - permission to jam cell phone signals.