Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
January 2, 2009
Mr. Devon Brown DA 09-3
Director
District of Columbia Department of Corrections
1923 Vermont Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20001
Dear Mr. Brown:
The Commission has received your letter requesting “authorization for the District of 
Columbia Department of Corrections to host a demonstration of equipment designed to block 
wireless telephone calls by prisoners.”1 You state that the equipment was developed by 
CellAntenna Corporation and is “scheduled to be exhibited on January 8, 2009, at the D.C. Jail at 
1901 D Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003.”2 In support of the request, you explain that 
“contraband cell phones are a major security risk within correctional settings” and that “prison 
and jail systems across the country are confiscating these devices at an alarming rate.”3 In 
addition, you state that “cell phones are used by inmates to engage in highly pernicious behavior 
such as the intimidation of witnesses, coordination of escapes, and the conducting of criminal 
enterprises.”4
We agree that the proposed demonstration of equipment designed to prevent prisoners’ 
unauthorized wireless telecommunications will benefit public safety.  Consistent with your 
representation that the proposed demonstration “can be limited to a jail or prison facility without 
interruption to other cell phones or lines of communication outside of correctional walls,”5 we 
find that the proposed demonstration will be narrowly tailored to limit impact on authorized 
wireless operations, while maximizing public safety benefits.  Accordingly, we hereby grant, on 
our own motion, special temporary authority to the District of Columbia Department of 
Corrections to conduct a demonstration of CellAntenna Corporation’s directional jamming 
equipment to be held on January 8, 2009, from 11:30 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. at the D.C. Jail 
located at 1901 D Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003.  Actual demonstration of such 
equipment is not to exceed 30 minutes in duration within this time frame.  We require that the 
demonstration leave unaffected authorized wireless communications transmitted on (1) mobile 
handsets and base stations outside the established test area at the D.C. Jail facilities located at 
1901 D Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003; and (2) mobile handsets operating on non-blocked 
frequency bands used by the D.C. Jail staff performing their official duties within the D.C. Jail.  
  
1 Letter from Devon Brown, Director, District of Columbia Department of Corrections, to Kevin Martin, 
Chairman, Federal Communications Commission at 1 (Dec. 16, 2008) (“DOC Letter”).
2 Id.
3 Id.
4 Id.
5 Id.
This action is taken under delegated authority pursuant to Sections 0.131 and 0.331 of the 
Commission’s Rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.131, 0.331.
Sincerely,
Joel D. Taubenblatt
Deputy Chief
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau