Prison Phone Justice Movement Finds Champions at the FCC and in Hollywood

Federal Communications Commission member Mignon Clyburn has stood up to champion the end of grossly excessive prison phone rates.

At a November 15th rally outside the FCC, Commissioner Clyburn reiterated her public support for the “Wright Petition,” announcing that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is now circulating a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Wright Petition for a vote. Commissioner Clyburn also hosted an FCC screening of Middle of Nowhere, a Sundance award-winning film that highlights the struggles of families with incarcerated family members, and that highlights the injustices that emanate from the predatory prison “payphone” system. Unlike traditional payphones used outside of the prison walls, prison “payphones” are not pay telephones at all. Rather, they are PBX’s set up to monitor inmate conversations.