CTIA-The Wireless Association® Statement on Press Conference in South Carolina on Cell Phones in Prisons

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to the press conference on cell phones in prisons by South Carolina's Governor Mark Sanford and Department of Corrections Director Jon Ozmint, CTIA-The Wireless Association® President and CEO Steve Largent issued the following statement:

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"CTIA and the wireless industry appreciate the attention that today's press conference has shined on the use of contraband cell phones by inmates. Governor Sanford's statement comes just as the industry is working directly with his office and the Department of Corrections on an alternative solution to stop contraband cell phone use in the state. We do not have any legitimate consumers behind bars, and we have long advocated for increasing penalties for anyone caught with a device, including those who smuggle in these contraband items. We are also working to prevent any use of wireless phones within corrections facilities.

"As we have seen time and again in the U.S. and other countries, people simply walking or driving by a facility's activated jammer could suffer degraded or disrupted wireless service. We are joined in our opposition of the use of jammers by our nation's leading public safety organizations.

"With support from carriers across the country, demonstrations of alternative technologies, such as managed access and cell detection, have continuously proven that they can prevent inmates from using contraband phones while ensuring public safety and consumers have service to their devices. Most recently, the Mississippi Department of Corrections deployed a managed access system with tremendous success.

"This is a serious contraband issue that needs to be stopped. The national carriers and the alternative technology solutions providers are ready, willing and able to set-up a lawful solutions demonstration in a South Carolina facility as soon as possible."

CTIA-The Wireless Association® (www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry's voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry's leading wireless tradeshows. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, DC.

SOURCE CTIA-The Wireless Association

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