(1888PressRelease)
January 08, 2009 - Coral Springs, FL – CellAntenna Corporation announces that it has been invited by the District of Columbia Department of Corrections to hold a presentation of its “cell-jamming” device that could be used to jam illegal cell phone use at the Training Academy in Washington, DC on January 8th at 11:30 AM EST. The District of Columbia Department of Corrections and correction’s facilities nationally are confronted with a growing threat to the safety and security of the public and corrections’ staff – unauthorized use of cell phones in prisons. The illegal use of cell phones in prisons allows prisoners to coordinate and conduct criminal activity from behind bars. Currently the 1934 Communications Act prohibits local and state law enforcement from using jamming devices. CellAntenna has been leading a national legal challenge to give local and state law enforcement the power to jam such illegal activity. In the demonstration, CellAntenna will show that using jamming devices in prisons will not affect prison security radios or any cell phone equipment outside of the Training Center as opponents of jamming in prisons have alleged.
Currently the 1934 Communications Act prohibits local and state law enforcement from using jamming devices. CellAntenna has been leading a national legal challenge to give local and state law enforcement the power to jam such illegal activity. In 2005, CellAntenna Corporation mounted a judicial challenge to the constitutionality of the FCC restrictions, seeking to permit the use of cellular jamming devices by state and local governments and first responders. After the United States District Court Southern District of Florida in Miami ruled that it lacked jurisdiction, CellAntenna filed a Petition for Rulemaking before the FCC to allow state and local governments to use jamming equipment. The CTIA, (the organization representing the cellular providers) opposes CellAntenna’s position. In CellAntenna’s South Carolina demonstration, CITA President Steve Largent called Governor Mark Sanford in attempt to stop the “cell-jamming” demonstration. The Governor refused the request.
“I want to thank Devon Brown and the District of Columbia Department of Corrections for allowing us to hold this demonstration,” said Howard Melamed, President and CEO of CellAntenna. “Cell phones are now considered to be the ‘New Cash’ for inmates. Unfortunately, prison authorities are helpless in defending themselves and the public against the threat as the 1934 Communications Act prohibits anyone but the Federal Government from jamming communication. I think the District of Columbia is to be commended for recognizing this growing problem.”
“The FCC and the CTIA have said that jamming of cell phones should not be allowed in prisons since there is no way of containing the jamming within the prison walls," continued Melamed, “In this demonstration, using CellAntenna Corporation’s technology, we will prove that jamming can be contained and refutes the FCC and CTIA claims. Indeed I would welcome members of CITA and the FCC to attend to see how ‘cell-jamming’ really works.”
CellAntenna Corporation will be inviting United States Senators, Congressman, the Mayor, members of the District Columbia City Council, Correctional and Law Enforcement personnel across the nation, and representatives from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). The FCC is the regulating agency that would need to amend current restrictions against cell phone jamming to grant correctional agencies nationwide the authority to block and jam illegal cell signals permanently.
About CellAntenna Corporation
Headquartered in Coral Springs, Florida, and offices in England and Poland, CellAntenna Corporation provides packaged, custom, and even rapid deployment cellular repeater systems for residential, commercial and government use. The company’s new products provide communication during disasters and where signal enhancement is required for saving lives. CellAntenna is involved in the limiting of cellular communication in prisons and in areas of high security. In addition, CellAntenna works on new and innovative applications for its systems and develops new, cutting-edge technologies. For more information, please visit: www.cellantenna.com.
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