How Federal/State Prison Telephones Work/Links to Resources
The following are links to more information about how efforts to Stop the Contract state by state and across the country are faring.
The FCC oversees interstate communications (between 2 states). The states have jurisdiction over intrastate communications (within the state).
For the past five years, the FCC has been considering the
"Wright Case" which may result in "benchmark rates" or flat, "fair" fee structure. Currently, there is an Interim Head Commissioner of the FCC, so no decisions are being made.
The FCC has not yet made a ruling in response to any of the petitions or comments.
If the FCC does not take action, prison phone rate regulation can be accomplished by federal legislation that requires the FCC to act, such as the Family Telephone Connection Protection Act, H.R. 1133, which was filed by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush.
More than half of the states now offer prepaid or debit calling at reduced rates. (In 2000, there were only 6 states with debit calling.) Six states have eliminated commissions, and California is phasing out their commission over several years. Texas is implementing a telephone system for the use of incarcerated individuals. That state had been the only state that did not offer the service to the general population.
Some states and federal institutions allow prisoners to call VoIP lines, which substantially reduces the rates.
Some also allow calls to cell phones, once nearly universally prohibited.
More states now have even implemented email systems that can allow for more rapid incoming communication at reduced rates.
For more details see: ETC: The Campaign to Promote Equitable Telephone Charges
Numerous articles about the prison phone rate issue on the Prison Legal News website.