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Call To Action!Tired of Paying Outrageous Rates for Calls From Incarcerated Loved Ones? HELP LOWER PHONE RATES EVERYWHERE!Background Information The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently considering whether it should impose rules to limit the cost of phone calls from prisons and jails. Right now, most prison phone service providers pay “commissions” to correctional authorities for the right to provide exclusive services in prisons or entire state prison systems. Such “commissions” can be as high as 60% of all revenue , driving the cost of the phone service to astronomical rates. And since the contracts confer the right to provide exclusive services, no other phone companies are allowed to compete to provide services. Such arrangements create a monopoly for phone companies that can offer the highest “commissions,” and since “commissions” are a huge part of the cost of prison phone calls, prices spiral in a continuing contest to offer higher and higher “commissions.”
And phone companies have developed other ways to increase the cost of calls from prisons and jails. For instance, most facilities permit only “collect-calls,” the most expensive calling option. Of course, that means the phone companies can collect more money, pay higher “commissions,” and increase profit margins. Many companies require that called parties (families and friends of prisoners) establish “pre-paid” accounts. Typically, consumers must place between $25 and $50 on account so the phone companies will have no problem collecting on telephone bills. Phone companies almost always charge an additional fee for the establishment of a “pre-paid” account, and some will not refund account balances once a prisoner has been transferred or released. Even worse, state regulators have concluded that some of these prison phone companies have been intentionally disconnecting calls so they can add a second (or third) charge for the first minute of a call, which is by far the most costly.
The FCC has both the authority and the responsibility to ensure that fair rates are charged on each and every in-state and out-of-state phone call, and it seems the agency may at last fulfill its responsibility in the waning days of the present administration.
Prison pay phone companies have high-powered lobbyists and lawyers they employee to convince the FCC and state utilities commissions that regulation is both unnecessary and in fact, a disservice to prisoners and their families. Some of the law enforcement authorities that have been receiving millions of dollars in “commissions” say regulation would compromise security. These assertions simply are not so. Residents of a state generally have the right to file complaints about services, polices, or practices of utility companies like prisoner pay phone providers. The agencies that over-see and regulate these businesses are referred to as state utility commissions or state public service commissions. Information about how to contact such commissions in some states can be found in these pages. But, through telephone listings, the internet, or government information services, for example, it should not be difficult to find that information if the agency in your state is not listed. In the linked pages, you can learn more about how to share your experience and opinions with the FCC.
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