Advocates Applaud the Advancement of Legislation Restoring FCC's Authority to Address High Cost Phone Calls for the Incarcerated
On March 22, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee moved the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2021 (S.1541) out of committee after a markup. Introduced in 2021 by Sen Tammy Duckworth (D–IL), the bill advanced with an amendment agreed to by prison phone justice advocates and the National Sheriffs’ Association. The bill would restore the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to regulate all prison and jail calls and stop prison telecom corporations from charging incarcerated people and their loved ones predatory rates.
