FCC Will Vote to End Exorbitant Phone & Video Call Rates for Incarcerated Persons & Their Families

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote to end exorbitant phone and video call rates that have burdened incarcerated people and their families for decades. With the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, Congress empowered the FCC to close the final loopholes in the communications system which has had detrimental effects on families and recidivism rates nationwide. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel shared proposed final rules with her colleagues for their consideration at the Commission’s next Open Meeting. The proposed rules would significantly lower existing per-minute rate caps for out-of-state and international audio calls from any type of correctional facility, and apply those rate caps to instate audio calls. And, for the first time, the proposed rules would establish interim per-minute rate caps for video communications, including video visitation. The proposed rules would also lower the overall prices consumers pay by eliminating the ability to impose separate ancillary service charges.