Mississippi DOC Launches First Managed Access System In The U.S. by Deploying Tecore’s iNAC To Fight Contraband Cell Phones in “Operation Cellblock”

JACKSON, Miss. & RESTON, Va. & COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), Global Tel*Link (GTL), the leading provider of communications solutions for the corrections industry, and Tecore Networks, a global supplier of multi-technology 2G, 3G and 4G mobile network infrastructure, announced the deployment of “Operation Cellblock” powered by Tecore’s Intelligent Network Access Controller (iNAC) Managed Access system at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, MS. iNAC is a multi-carrier, multi-technology platform which prevents unauthorized cell phone communications, enables legitimate and 911 calls, and has been authorized for operation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as well as all the commercial carriers serving the facility.

“GTL is committed to meeting all of the corrections community’s communications requirements, now and in the future, and the prevention of contraband cell phone use is an extension of that mission”

Corrections and law enforcement officials from the federal government and numerous states were on hand Wednesday to experience the new technology at Parchman, which is the first commercial deployment of its type in the United States. Information presented at the event included:

Remarks by Christopher Epps, Commissioner, MDOC; Rear Admiral (ret.) James Arden Barnett, Jr., Chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FCC; Jeffrey Haidinger, President, GTL; and Bruce Portell, Chief Operating Officer, Tecore Networks
iNAC has blocked 216,320 call and message attempts in its first month of operation at Parchman, from as many as 600 devices a day
GTL is providing the iNAC Managed Access system for MDOC through its contract obligations for inmate telephone service
Given the success of the Parchman implementation, MDOC and GTL will be working on plans for future deployments at additional MDOC facilities.

iNAC does not require changes to existing law in order to be operated, unlike alternative technologies such as jamming. The system forms a radio frequency umbrella and provides the ability to manage cellular devices within a precisely defined target area. This Managed Access solution provides the system operator with the capability to permit or deny communications from these devices based on a rich policy engine, including allowing 911 calls from even unauthorized devices. The advantages of iNAC for corrections personnel include:

Assurance that unwanted communications are being disrupted before they can occur
Avoidance of resource-intensive measures to manually locate and retrieve devices
Addressing not only cell phones, but subscriber identity module (SIM) cards which store contact lists and account plans, are as small as postage stamps and easily concealable, and can be transferred from one phone to another so that inmates can continue to place calls
Availability of device and call information for forensic analysis consistent with applicable law.

“The use of contraband cell phones by prison inmates is the most serious problem for corrections today, and my team and I have left no stone unturned to maintain public safety by eliminating this threat,” said Epps. “GTL and Tecore have combined their extensive expertise and sophisticated support to deliver a solution which meets the needs of all of the stakeholders in this issue, most especially the citizens of Mississippi.”

“GTL is committed to meeting all of the corrections community’s communications requirements, now and in the future, and the prevention of contraband cell phone use is an extension of that mission,” said Haidinger. “Our team has evaluated a number of potential technologies, and have concluded that Tecore’s Managed Access is currently the most optimal way to restrict unwanted use of cell phones while allowing corrections officers, emergency callers and other approved users to conduct normal communications.”

“Tecore introduced the iNAC Managed Access technology two years ago, and has been working with the corrections community as well as with the FCC, other regulatory agencies, and the carriers to meet all of their needs,” said Portell. “We applaud Commissioner Epps and MDOC for leading the way in solving a major problem in the nation’s prisons, and appreciate the efforts of GTL, the FCC and the carriers as partners in launching Managed Access technology to meet that need. On behalf of this nation’s citizens, I implore other states to adopt Managed Access and rapidly eliminate a significant problem for our public safety.”

About Global Tel*Link

Since our entrance into the Inmate Telephone Industry, GTL has been the leading innovator of correctional communications technology. GTL continually advances its core mission by offering to its client’s gold standard solutions for integrated inmate telephone and offender management systems. As the market leader in the inmate telecommunications’ industry, GTL provides service to 40% of inmates nationwide including 12 of 20 of the largest state DOCs. For more information, visit www.gtl.net.

About Tecore Networks

Tecore Networks is a global supplier of multi-technology 2G, 3G and 4G mobile network infrastructure. Built with the same standards-based voice and data technologies available to global carriers on an IP-based architecture, we have dramatically enhanced functionality while minimizing space requirements, installation time and cost of ownership. We also offer integrated value-added features to enable our customers to increase ARPU and retention. Our solutions include core as well as radio access network infrastructure, supported by state-of-the-art professional services. Founded in 1991, Tecore is ISO 9001:2008 certified, and is a three-time winner of the Global Mobile (3GSM) Award. For more information, visit www.tecore.com.

Tecore Managed Access™, Intelligent Network Access Controller™ and iNAC™ are trademarks of Tecore, Inc.