The strange case of prison phone calls

The prison phone industry is strange.

Calls from inside state and federal prisons are run by a handful of companies, like Pay Tel Communications, ICSolutions and GTL (formerly Global Tel*Link). Those corporations win monopolies within prisons by offering a portion of their revenue to the state. These commissions can run above 90 percent in some places. This system can stick the actual customers — that is, the incarcerated and their families — with huge bills. A 15-minute local call could cost up to $25. A week can add up to around $1,000 a year. Studies have shown prisoners who communicate with loved ones are less likely to commit more crimes after they get out, but the push and pull between security and rehabilitation further complicates the economic relationship between prison, inmate and phone company. Automated security systems drop calls frequently, and users need to pay a new surcharge to get connected. That's lead to investigations and sketchy charges around the country.

The Federal Communications Commission voted on new rules to cap charges in 2015, bringing the cost of a 15-minute call down to about $1.65 in most places. The phone companies sued, giving way to a lengthy legal battle and a stay on the cap. So inmates and families are still paying high prices as a federal appeals court tries to sort out arguments from phone companies, states, inmate advocates and, until last week, the FCC.