COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — An ex-South Carolina prison guard who was nearly killed in a hit orchestrated by an inmate using an illegal cellphone is traveling to Washington this week, asking federal authorities for help to make sure nothing like it happens again.

On Thursday, former corrections officer Robert Johnson is scheduled to testify before the Federal Communications Commission in a hearing about preventing inmate access to cellphones.

Earlier this month, in an article published online, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai wrote that he and others will take public input before voting on "reforms to facilita...