CPUC Seeks Comment on ICS Rate Relief
The California Public Utilities Commission sought comment on interim rate relief for inmate calling services. “Intrastate per-minute-of-use rates and ancillary service rates being charged to inmates in California" are "unreasonable,” and the ICS market “demonstrates market power abuse,” said the…
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staff proposal Friday in docket R.20-10-002. ICS provider data requested by CPUC staff showed intrastate per-minute rates up to $1.75 per minute and connection fees or first-minute rates up to $3.60. “A 15-minute intrastate phone call in California can cost the caller as much as $26.25 in per-minute charges only, excluding any other transaction fees,” it said. The CPUC could lower the price of a 15-minute call to between $2.15 and $3.75 by temporarily adopting the FCC’s 2013 ICS rate caps until the CPUC can adopt permanent rates, staff said. "Staff estimates that 186 facilities and over 46,000 inmates would see immediate rate reductions from the interim rates, as they have rates that exceed $0.21 per minute.” If the FCC lowers its rate caps, the CPUC should follow suit, staff said. FCC rates aren’t appropriate long term because most calls are intrastate and therefore should be lower than interstate rates, staff said. Comments are due April 30, replies May 5.