Washington, D.C. - Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) is urging Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin to allow the State of Texas to block illegal cellular phone calls from being made from inside Texas jails and prisons. This request was made after a statewide lockdown of prison inmates, including many on death row, after inmates were caught making threatening phone calls to the families of their victims, state lawmakers, and the prosecutors who helped convict them.

“This kind of behavior is deplorable,” said Brady. “The thought that innocent families who have been tragically affected by the murder of a loved one are further victimized and now afraid to answer their telephones, out of fear that the person on the other end is calling from prison, is unacceptable and must stop.”

After learning of these calls, the State of Texas promptly took aggressive steps, including a statewide lockdown, to remove all cellular phones and other contraband from the prison inmates. However, state officials say federal regulations are tying their hands when it comes to installing cellular telephone jamming devices inside prison walls.

In his letter to Chairman Martin, Congressman Brady asked for state agencies to be given the ability to block calls, or if that is not possible under current law, for the FCC to provide Congress with the necessary legislative guidance to effectively address this heinous situation.

 “I will do everything in my power at the federal level to try and keep these families safe from these harassing phone calls,” Brady added.