Prison phone companies fight for right to charge inmates $14 a minute

The Federal Communications Commission is about to face another lawsuit, this time over a vote to cap the prices prisoners pay for phone calls. Inmate calling companies Global Tel*Link (GTL) and Securus Technologies, vowed to take the FCC to court over the decision. The FCC's decision "create[s] significant financial instability in the industry and will pose a threat to service at many of the nation’s smaller jails," GTL said. "Consequently, GTL is left with no choice but to seek judicial review of the FCC’s order."

GTL CEO Brian Oliver claimed that the FCC has "hurt inmates and their families -- the very people they set out to help. While they might see lower per-minute rates, they could be left with either the lowest quality of phone service or no phone service at all." Securus said the FCC's decision "will cause smaller and medium-sized prisons and jails to lose the ability for inmates to communicate with friends and family." The company said it will appeal the order and request a stay from the US Court of Appeals in Washington (DC). When asked if he's concerned about defending against an inmate calling lawsuit in addition to the others, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said, "Oh golly, I think the rule at the FCC is make a decision, go to court. Everybody sues us about everything."