Michael S. Hamden - Attorney, Counselor at Law & Corrections Consultant

Alabama

Public Service Commission Conducts Rulemaking Proceeding

To Establish Inmate Telephone Service Rates and Guidelines
Docket No. 15957

 

On June 10, 2008 the Alabama Public Service Commission issued an Order in Docket 15957 seeking comments on the Public Staff’s proposed rule revisions and rates for Inmate Phone Service (“IPS”).  The proposed rates for collect calls are:

 

 

Operator Services Charge

Per Message/Minute

Local

$2.25

$.50/message

Toll Calls

$2.25

$.30/minute

 

These proposed charges seem far in excess of actual costs or a fair rate of return.  It is hoped that more reasonable rates will be decided and that this proceeding will also regulate the fees that are charged to enable families to set up and make payments on prepaid accounts.  As remarkable as it seems, these families are actually being charged exorbitant fees to pay the service providers in advance.  It is hoped the PSC will make certain that these third party payment fees are passed through to families at cost with no mark-up or profit for IPS providers.  Comments have been filed by Global Tel*Link, Evercom Systems, Inc., T-Netix Telecommunications Services, Inc.,  and Pay Tel Communications, Inc.

 

ALABAMA PSC DOCKET 15957 - documents of interest:


REPLY COMMENTS REGARDING GENERIC PROCEEDING CONSIDERING THE PROMULGATION OF TELEPHONE SERVICE RULES GOVERNING INMATE PHONE SERVICE FOR EVERCOM SYSTEMS, INC. AND T-NETIX TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC.

https://www.pscpublicaccess.alabama.gov/pscpublicaccess/ViewFile.aspx?Id=422f571c-5f69-4563-b0bb-16fde3a8db70

 

GENERIC PROCEEDING TO CONSIDER THE PROMULGATION OF TELEPHONE RULES GOVERNING INMATE PHONE SERVICE, DOCKET NO. 15956

https://www.pscpublicaccess.alabama.gov/pscpublicaccess/ViewFile.aspx?Id=6e7f7a2c-05c8-45f6-8967-52095083a612

 

GENERIC PROCEEDING CONSIDERING OF TELEPHONE SERVICE RULES GOVERING INMATE PHONE SERVICE, DOCKET 15957 COMMENTS OF GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION

https://www.pscpublicaccess.alabama.gov/pscpublicaccess/ViewFile.aspx?Id=efbd29a9-189a-4d86-921f-642003913563