H.R. 3577 — END CELLS Act

This section establishes prohibitions and penalties under the Communications Act of 1934 for (1) providing or attempting to provide a wireless communications device to a person held in a U.S. detention facility (i.e., correctional, detention, or penal facility), (2) willfully and knowingly facilitating its introduction into such a facility, or (3) possessing, obtaining, or attempting to obtain such a device while held there—all when done in violation of federal or state statute, rule, or order. Civil penalties include forfeitures of up to $50,000 per violation or per day of a continuing violation (not to exceed $1 million total per single act or failure to act), with no prior citation required and a two-year statute of limitations. Criminal penalties include fines of up to $50,000 for willful and knowing violations (in lieu of fines under existing law but without affecting imprisonment options). The prohibitions do not apply to authorized federal, state, or local law enforcement or intelligence activities and do not limit state enforcement powers. A wireless communications device is defined as any device enabling radio communication (licensed or not) or a component enabling network connection.