> I understand wanting to surveil prisoners but denying them access to the outside world completely is wrong and a waste of everyone’s time.

Counter-argument: seeing the world pass you by is a good way to become suicidal, and the state (at least here in the US) has an obligation to protect those in their custody.

Receiving broadcasts e.g. radio signals etc. is fairly low risk (exceptions include coded one-way transmissions), but bidirectional communication is a good way to increase the risk that a prison may face a life-critical challenge at some point.

So then the realization that the world passed them by hits them shortly after release, potentially escalating into an existential crisis, and ensuing recidivism.

Do you have any source whatsoever for that claim? Personally, I don't believe for a minute that additional freedom for prisoners would increase suicide, but I'm no expert.