House Democrats Ask Why FCC Delayed Prison-Calling Rules
Twenty-three Democratic members of the House slammed an FCC Wireline Bureau order that delays until April 1, 2027, the implementation of rules curbing the costs of incarcerated people’s communications service (IPCS). In a letter to Chairman Brendan Carr, they asked for an explanation (see 2507030024), given the Jan. 5 deadline for rules written into the Martha Wright-Reed Act. The delay “will have immediate and devastating consequences for our constituents,” said the lawmakers, led by Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif.
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Much of the order went into effect in November 2024, and most providers were in compliance by April 1, said the letter, posted Wednesday in docket 23-62. “The Commission’s action was a long-overdue response to the rampant price gouging by prison telecommunications providers, which have forced families to pay as much as $11.35 for a single 15-minute phone call,” lawmakers said. Under the new rules, the same call would cost 93 cents, they noted.
The bureau’s justification for stopping implementation -- financial challenges faced by IPCS operators -- “is particularly concerning,” the letter said. The current system allows providers “to offer lucrative ‘commissions,’ or kickbacks to correctional facilities to secure exclusive contracts.” Those commissions can “siphon off” up to 50% of the money that families spend on calls, “turning basic communication into a revenue stream for prison operators. This model drives up prices and places institutional profit ahead of the human need for connection and rehabilitation.”
The Wireline Bureau on Monday asked for comment on an application for review of the delay order (see 2508110065).