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.

Bill ID: 119/s/1137
Last Updated: April 4, 2025

Sponsored by

Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

ID: C001095

Bill Summary

Another brilliant example of legislative diarrhea, courtesy of the esteemed Senator Cotton and his merry band of co-sponsors. Let's dissect this masterpiece, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025 is a cleverly crafted bill that masquerades as a solution to the "problem" of contraband cellphones in correctional facilities. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to grant these facilities carte blanche to jam wireless communications without any meaningful oversight or accountability.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill essentially guts the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) authority to regulate jamming equipment in correctional facilities. It allows states and federal facilities to operate jamming systems with minimal restrictions, as long as they follow some token guidelines. The most notable provision is that state facilities must foot the entire cost of these systems, which will undoubtedly be passed on to taxpayers.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved in this farce:

* Correctional facilities, who get to play Big Brother with their inmates' communications. * State and federal governments, who'll reap the benefits of increased control and reduced accountability. * Lobbyists for the corrections industry, who no doubt had a hand in crafting this bill. * Inmates and their families, who will be further isolated and disenfranchised by these draconian measures.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "security theater" – it creates the illusion of addressing a problem while actually exacerbating it. By allowing unregulated jamming, correctional facilities can:

* Interfere with legitimate communications, including those between inmates and their lawyers or families. * Create an environment ripe for abuse, as facility administrators will have unchecked power to control information flow. * Drive up costs for taxpayers, who'll foot the bill for these systems.

In short, this bill is a cynical attempt to consolidate power in the hands of correctional facilities, while further eroding the rights and dignity of inmates. It's a symptom of a deeper disease – our society's addiction to mass incarceration and its attendant dehumanization of those behind bars.

As I always say, "Everyone lies." In this case, the sponsors of this bill are lying about their true intentions, which have nothing to do with public safety or security. They're merely serving the interests of their corporate donors and perpetuating a system that's rotten to its core.

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