Why Families Must Fight FCC Prison Jammers Now

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering a proposal that would allow state and local prisons to deploy cell phone jamming technology. On the surface, it sounds like a “security measure.” In reality, it’s a decision that could silence prisoners, cut them off from family, and even cost lives.

For families in Georgia, this is not an abstract debate. It’s a direct threat to our loved ones. If cell phone jammers are approved, prisoners will lose one of the only tools they have to protect themselves in emergencies, maintain contact with their families, and continue learning and growing while inside.

The FCC is asking for public comments before making a final decision. That means now is the time for families to speak up.

Reality Inside Georgia’s Prisons

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has already confirmed what GPS has reported for years: Georgia’s prisons are dangerously understaffed.

At night, on weekends, and during holidays, an entire prison of 1,500–1,800 men is often supervised by only one, two, or three officers total.
Even during the day, staffing is dangerously thin. It’s common to have a single officer responsible for one or two whole buildings—anywhere from 240 to 480 men per officer.
Officers often huddle together in offices, leaving entire dorms unsupervised for hours at a time. At nights, weekends, and holidays, this is the rule, not the exception.

When emergencies happen—stabbings, heart attacks, seizures, suicide attempts—there are no panic buttons or reliable ways to get an officer’s attention. Prisoners bang on windows and doors, hoping someone might eventually respond. Too often, no one comes in time.

Mental health resources are equally scarce. While Georgia prisons technically have “counselors,” they do not provide mental health services. Their role is limited to administrative paperwork, and they are only available during the day. Medical units may employ mental health professionals at certain prisons, but again, they are present only during business hours. Nights, weekends, and holidays—the times when despair is often greatest—there is no one to turn to.

How Contraband Phones Have Saved Lives

Contraband phones have been vilified by officials, but GPS has documented case after case where these devices have saved lives:

Dooly State Prison (2024): When Zeary “Blue” Davis was stabbed, it wasn’t staff who first called for help. A prisoner used a contraband cell phone to alert prison administrators that Blue would die without immediate medical attention. Officers didn’t show up for 15 minutes, and paramedics only arrived after 30. Without that phone call, there would have been no warning at all.
Washington State Prison (2025): Prisoners documented the aftermath of Dontavis Carter’s murder with a contraband phone video. That recording became evidence of the violence inside and exposed the GDC’s attempts to downplay the truth.
Across Georgia: In countless emergencies—from seizures to suicide attempts—prisoners have used phones to reach families, who then called the prison or 911 on their behalf when no officers could be found.

These are not hypotheticals. They are survival strategies in a system where the state refuses to provide basic safeguards.

Yes, cell phones have been used for crimes. But those crimes are almost always detected and punished—often faster than similar crimes on the outside. The problem is not communication itself, but the state’s refusal to harness communication in constructive, transparent ways.

Why Jammers Are Dangerous

Cell phone jammers don’t just block contraband calls. They create dangerous, unintended side effects:

Public Safety Interference: Jammers risk “bleeding” into nearby neighborhoods, blocking or weakening legitimate signals. They can disrupt emergency 911 calls from staff, visitors, or the public.
Medical Risks: Some prisoners rely on wireless heart monitors and other medical equipment that operate on the same frequencies jammers disrupt. Georgia prisons have already been caught experimenting with drone jammers that illegally interfere with the 2.4 GHz spectrum—the same band many medical devices rely on. The result: life-saving equipment that stops working properly.
Staff Safety: Jammers could interfere with the very radios and phones officers depend on in an emergency. Instead of making prisons safer, they would make them more dangerous for everyone inside.

Better Solutions Already Exist

Georgia has already spent millions installing Managed Access Systems (MAS). Unlike jammers, MAS can distinguish between authorized and unauthorized communications. They allow prisons to block criminal activity while still permitting monitored, transparent communication between prisoners and their families.

If the Department of Corrections truly cared about safety, they would fully utilize these systems instead of pushing for jammers that silence everyone.

Families Must Speak Now

The FCC will only hear from those who take the time to comment. If families stay silent, the only voices they’ll hear will be from prison officials and lobbyists who profit from cutting prisoners off from their loved ones.

This is your chance to tell the FCC what contraband phones really mean in Georgia’s prisons: survival, connection, and hope.

How to Submit Your Comment

1. Go to the FCC’s ECFS website: www.fcc.gov/ecfs

2. Click “Submit a Filing.”

3. Enter the docket number: GN Docket No. 13-111

4. Fill in your information. You must include your name and mailing address.

5. Write your comment. You can type it directly into the box or upload a document.

Talking Points You Can Use

Georgia prisons are dangerously understaffed. Sometimes only one or two officers oversee an entire prison of over 1,700 men. Emergencies often go unanswered.
Contraband phones have saved lives, prevented suicides, and helped prisoners maintain family ties that reduce recidivism.
Phones provide education, self-improvement, and hope for rehabilitation.
Jammers risk blocking legitimate emergency calls, disrupting medical equipment, and endangering both prisoners and staff.
Better alternatives already exist: Managed Access Systems can block criminal activity while preserving monitored communication.

Learn More

GPS has been documenting these issues for years. Read more in:

Final Word

The FCC needs to hear from families—not just bureaucrats. This is our chance to show them that cell phones in prison are not just contraband. They are lifelines. Don’t let Georgia’s prison system silence your loved one. Submit your comment today.