Telecommunication

Decades later, Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) and other components of the nation’s digital backbone remain flawed, leaving calls and texts vulnerable to interception and disruption. Instead of facing the challenges of our hyper-connected age, the Federal Communications Commission is stumbling, according to documents obtained by the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) and through extensive interviews with current and former agency employees.

As US officials have pressured allies not to use networking gear from Chinese technology giant Huawei over spying concerns, President Donald Trump has urged American companies to “step up” and compete to provide the next generation of high-speed, low-lag wireless service known as 5G. There’s just one problem: There are barely any US companies manufacturing the technology’s most critical components.

After April 15, inmates at the Adult Detention Center in Lowndes County (MS) will no longer be allowed to visit with family members face to face. Newton County (MO) implemented an in-person visitor ban in March. The Allen County Jail in IN phased out in-person visits earlier in 2019. All three changes are part of a nationwide trend toward "video visitation" services. Instead of seeing their loved ones face to face, inmates are increasingly limited to talking to them through video terminals. These services are ludicrously expensive.

Rural Kansas residents are angered by bad cellphone connection in Conway Springs (KS) due to only one service provider working in the area. "It's kind of a monopoly as far as the cellphone service goes," said Clay Murphy, superintendent of Conway Springs schools. A map released by Gov Laura Kelly (D-KS) showed the broadband connection throughout the state of Kansas. In rural Kansas areas it was the lowest, including Conway Springs. "Even the one's that have the carrier depending on where you're at in town or on the edge of town, you can't get service," Murphy said.

The Federal Communications Commission will hold an Open Meeting on the subjects listed below on Friday, April 12, 2019:

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved two telecommunications bills:

Two US providers of phone services for correctional facilities called off their planned merger after the Federal Communications Commission refused to clear the deal. Closely held Securus Technologies Inc. and Inmate Calling Solutions LLC withdrew their merger application after FCC staff reviewing the deal said it would hurt the public interest.

Based on a record of nearly 1 million documents comprised of 7.7 million pages of information submitted by the applicants, as well as arguments and evidence submitted by criminal justice advocates, consumer groups, and other commenters, FCC staff concluded that this deal posed significant competitive concerns and would not be in the public interest. I agree. I’m therefore pleased that the companies have determined that withdrawing their application is the best course.

Reps David Kustoff (R-TN) and William Timmons (R-SC) introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2019 (HR 1954). Sens Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced identical legislation on the Senate side. This bill will address the use of contraband cell phones in state and federal correctional facilities.  What this bill does: