Bill Text: GA SR858 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: U.S.Congress; urge to permit the use of "cellular jammers" for the prevention of illegal cell phone use in prisons, jails, youth detention facilities
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-02-29 - Senate Passed/Adopted [SR858 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SR858-Enrolled.html
12 LC
35 2531
Senate
Resolution 858
By:
Senators Grant of the 25th, Hill of the 4th, Goggans of the 7th, Carter of the
1st, Unterman of the 45th and others
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the Congress of the United States to amend the Communications Act of 1934 and
the Federal Communication Commission's rules so as to permit the use of
"cellular jammers" for the prevention of illegal cell phone use in prisons,
jails, and youth detention facilities; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
there is currently a nation-wide epidemic of organized crime and gang related
violence, particularly within this country's prison systems, and the threat to
public safety is to not only those "inside the wire" but also to the members of
the general public whom we are elected to protect; and
WHEREAS,
the rampant illegal cell phone use in prison facilities across the United States
is a major contributing factor supporting the growing threat of organized crime,
gang violence, and terrorist threats; and
WHEREAS,
inmates and detainees illegally use cell phones to coordinate attacks and
protests against staff, expand gang activity, and increase their money and power
from behind bars; and
WHEREAS,
in 2011, the Georgia Department of Corrections confiscated more than 8,500
illegal cell phones as contraband and arrested more than 300 visitors and 60
staff employees for attempting to bring illegal cell phones into our state's
prisons; and
WHEREAS,
recent illegal cell phone use in Georgia prisons has caused inmate gang fights,
the hospitalization of 15 inmates, and serious injury to a correctional officer,
and unless something is done to stop the illegal use of cell phones in prison
facilities, more serious injuries and fatalities will occur; and
WHEREAS,
a study by the Georgia Department of Corrections found that the only
cost-effective technology to resolve the problem of illegal cell phone usage in
prisons is the use of "cellular jammers"; however, the use of "cellular jammers"
in prison facilities is prohibited by FCC rules; and
WHEREAS,
the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. § 302a(b), and FCC rules at 47
C.F.R. § 2.803(a) are outdated federal laws which prohibit the manufacture,
importation, marketing, sale, and operation of "cellular jammers" within the
United States, and these provisions have not been updated to meet the security
needs of our nation's prisons; and
WHEREAS,
carving out an exception for the use of "cellular jammer" technology in
detention facilities is a sound, affordable policy to protect inmates and
corrections employees and promote public safety.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body urge the
Congress of the United States to amend the Communications Act of 1934 and the
Federal Communication Commission's rules so as to permit the use of "cellular
jammers" for the prevention of illegal cell phone use in prisons, jails, and
youth detention facilities.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the members of the Federal
Communications Commission, Chairman Julius Genachowski, Commissioner Mignon
Clyburn, and Commissioner Robert M. McDowell, each member of the Georgia
congressional delegation, and Governor Nathan Deal.
