A company called CellAntenna continues to try to use the mobile phone smuggling problem in prison to expand its product line. Unfortunately, because many people (especially prison guards) want them to believe that new technology products can solve their problems, they continue to gain momentum. Not only are a group of prison guards asking the FCC to make rules, but they are supporting a bill that requires the FCC to allow cell phones to interfere with the prison.
You can find general information about CellAntenna on Cellantenna, how they used security holes in the prison to monetize and why this is not a good idea. In addition, in preparation for the Senate hearing on the issue tomorrow, we sent this letter (press release here) to President Rockefeller and grade member Hutchison Whampoa. We also arranged another five minutes with Harold Feld to briefly explain why this is a very bad idea. But to browse some titles: it will not work. As mentioned in this “Wired” article, you can use a few pieces of aluminum foil to eliminate interference. This does not even take into account that the human factors that the prison staff have compromised enough to allow the phone to pass through can also cope with the interference system.
On the other hand, as frequency coordinators, public safety agencies, and commercial licensees such as CTIA have pointed out, this is likely to disrupt wireless legal communications. I will note that although CellAntenna desperately needs a gorgeous demonstration under controlled circumstances, it does not seem to be keen to submit engineering data to support its claim that it can turn a cell phone in prison. . Interfere with (a) authorized telephones used by guards, (b) nearby public safety frequencies or (c) anyone outside the prison.
OTOH, although it may not squat down to solve the problem of using contraband phones, it will undoubtedly make it easier to obtain cellular wifi jammer with real manufacturing potential in the United States for commercial communications and public safety issues. If we really want to solve the problem, we must do better than the new and expensive gadgets that are not available. Cellular network operators can work with prisons to block all explicitly authorized calls (called “whitelists”), or they can monitor cell phone traffic from prisons from unauthorized sources. We can also reduce the telephone charges that prisoners call their families. As Beiser ’s “Connect” article points out, most prisoners use contraband phones to keep in touch with their families because they cannot afford the high rate of phone calls in prison. This makes it extremely profitable to rent cell phones from prisoners. Reduce the benefits of smuggling mobile phone rentals, and reduce (though not eliminate) the motivation to bring in mobile phones.
Fortunately, before the CellAntenna scam, people will be wise. Not only that, but security that is easily bypassed is worse than no security. Not only is money spent on jammers that sink like a sieve, but it can also be used to improve prison security and suppress smuggling measures. It is this situation that is dangerous for everyone who uses wireless, which means everyone today. The use of jammers in prisons is very useful, it can solve many problems and reduce the problems of prison management.