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FCC commissioners approved a rulemaking notice that examines alternatives to cell signal jamming for prisons to deploy to prevent smuggling of contraband cellphones into cellblocks. Four of the agency’s five members voted to approve the NPRM, officials said. Commissioner Robert McDowell, who is leaving the agency, didn’t participate in the order, and has not been voting on other recent items. The NPRM hadn’t been released by our deadline. Fighting contraband cellphones without the use of jamming equipment has long been an administration focus. NTIA released a report in late 2010 finding that managed access technologies “hold promise as a solution.” Cellphone detection also may offer a solution, the report said (CD Dec 30/10 p1).