Inmates will pay up to 83% more for phone calls, thanks to new FCC rule

Inmates will pay up to 83% more for phone calls, thanks to new FCC rule

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to allow prison telecommunication companies to charge incarcerated people up to 83% more for phone calls. This permanent change comes after a July FCC decision to temporarily raise the maximum rate that telecom companies can charge inmates per minute.In 2024, the FCC established a cap of $0.06 or $0.07 per minute for inmate phone calls, depending on the size of the prison or jail. This…

FCC Raises Phone Rate Caps - Sustainable Action Now (SAN)

In a move drawing widespread criticism from criminal justice reform advocates, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently voted to raise the caps on phone rates for incarcerated individuals, bowing to lobbying pressure from private prison operators and telecommunications companies. The decision, detailed in the Prison Policy Blog, marks a controversial shift in the regulatory landscape, reversing prior efforts to limit exorbitant phone…