Appropriations--Don't Coddle Inmates

From the Justice Appropriations Act (note, the URL's obtained when you search on the http://thomas.loc.gov site are temporary, so you have to redo the search.)

: " SEC. 112. (a) None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be used by Federal prisons to purchase cable television services, to rent or purchase videocassettes, videocassette recorders, or other audiovisual or electronic equipment used primarily for recreational purposes.

(b) The preceding sentence does not preclude the renting, maintenance, or purchase of audiovisual or electronic equipment for inmate training, religious, or educational programs."

So no cable for federal prison inmates, just the over-the-air programs. My impression is that most prisons are in rural areas so choice may be very limited. When TV came to upstate NY, the TV shop in Greene, NY set up a local cable system just because reception was so bad. Then I remember in the 70's seeing the first big cable dishes in those areas.

There's probably a home for this in the legislation governing the federal prison system, but again it's easier for the person who feels strongly about the issue to get it in the Appropriations Act.