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Solution

SafeCell’s solution, CellBlock, does not impact or collect information from outside the perimeter of the prison, works with FCC approved cellular protocols and has a reasonable cost. Uniquely, CellBlock does not rely on any sort of “jamming” technology which is known to block all radio services including 911 and require extensive testing prior to implementation.

CellBlock eliminates the risk of contraband cell phone use inside correctional facilities and
meets the requirements laid out by the Bureau of Prisons:

  1.  The equipment must work without impacting or collecting information from the
    general public located outside the secure perimeter
  2.  The solution should have no legal restrictions
  3.  The equipment must work with all cellular phone protocols
  4.  The overall cost of equipment and installation must be reasonable.

Please see the chart below which illustrates SafeCell relative to other technological approaches. The SafeCell comparison column in blue illustrates how SafeCell meets Bureau of Prisons requirements:

Technological Comparison for Combating Contraband Cellular Units in Prisons
SafeCell's CellBlock Jamming Managed access Detection NLJDs Hybrid/DRT Standard protocols
Covers all frequency bands Yes Yes Yes Yes Detects devices With equipment changes and carrier consent If protocols are established in the various devices
System Circumvention No - CellBlock disables non-whitelisted units No Yes, changing SIM cards can allow units to function again NA NA NA NA
Ease of Management End user installed application for registration and monitoring upon management approval Most be continually monitored Can be labor intensive Prison personnel continued monitoring required Prison personnel continued monitoring required Prison personnel continued monitoring required Prison personnel continued monitoring required
Potential to interfere with other radio services No, meets all FCC requirements, no danger of interference outside prison Yes- depending on deployment Yes; requires complex installation and operation; potential to cause interference outside prison and adjacent areas No-does not transmit No No for detection-only; yes same as managed access No
Protects 9-1-1 and authorized calls 9-1-1 yes; authorized calls from units in whitelisted databased only Not in jammed area 9-1-1 yes in most cases Yes-only detects Yes Yes No-all phones are locked within the boundaries
Identifies location Yes No Yes Yes Through physical research Yes, with portable device No
Cost considerations Very competitive and well within the reasonable threshold price range Extensive testing prior to implementation; can vary based on complexity of site; infrastructure costs Depends on coverage, frequency bands, vary based on complexity of site; connectivity infrastructure costs Hand-held units less expensive; number of sensors, installation Less expensive; requires staff time and risk Implementation costs can be expensive Inexpensive Bluetooth communications
Regulatory/legal issues Requires FCC regulatory authorizations and agreements between system vendor and carriers Illegal for non-Federal entities; pending legislation for case-by-case jamming Requires FCC regulatory authorizations and agreements between system vendor and carriers; any data mining may have legal implications; trap and trace issues with State and locals None None Trap and trace issues with State and locals for data mining capabilities; requires regulatory authorizations between vendor and carriers Impose a $1 per-phone fee to offset installation costs
Technical issues/other issues RF engineering needed as with all forms of communication Depends on size, shape, structure; RF engineering needed RF engineering needed; all forms of communication Location accuracy; sense any technology Must be very close to phone; overt RF engineering needed Adoption of protocols by industry; conceptual only