Making Prison Phone Calls Cheaper: Why It Matters

A Q&A with Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn.

The three current members of the FCC voted on a question that had gone unanswered for a decade: How much should prisoners and their families have to pay to talk on the phone with each other? By a 2-to-1 vote, the commission decided to move forward with rules that will dramatically lower the rates of such calls. Why is it so important? “We're on the eve of an incredible anniversary for civil rights advocates and those who care about the benefits and the promise America holds. The March on Washington commemoration will take place in just a few days, and I think about what this meant, what individuals were fighting for in terms of equity and the like. And I don't think it's an accident that this decision comes on the eve of that type of engagement. It just affirms the power of individuals -- particularly, we tend to concentrate on one individual, Martin Luther King.” “Regulators are here to be substitutes for competition. This was not a competitive engagement, and it cried for a regulatory solution, and we took the first steps to realize that. I am just so elated to be a part of this historic engagement, and it's going to make a real difference for friends and families and advocates and attorneys in this space.”