Free Press Cheers FCC Order to Reduce Cost of Prison Phone Calls

WASHINGTON -- On Friday, the Federal Communications Commission voted to reduce calling rates for prisoners and their families. The vote comes more than a decade after Martha Wright, joined by inmates and their families, petitioned the FCC to regulate the price of calls that today can cost more than $15 for a 15-minute call. Wright struggled to afford the cost of calls to her grandson while he was incarcerated.

The FCC’s order would require phone companies to base rates on actual costs, and would cap rates at 25 cents per minute while the FCC collects further data. The order would also prohibit companies from charging deaf and hard-of-hearing customers extra for the use of telecommunications relay services.

The FCC also issued a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to address intrastate calling rates, competition among prison phone providers, and quality of service, among other issues.

Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron made the following statement: 

“Martha Wright and so many others have waited a very long time for this moment. For too long, phone companies have preyed on the families of prisoners, charging exorbitant rates and fees that often forced people to choose between paying for phone calls to their loved ones and putting food on the table.

"We’re thrilled that the FCC has finally moved to reduce the cost of these calls, and we thank Acting Chairwoman Clyburn for bringing this to a vote and for her steadfast leadership on an issue the agency ignored for far too long. Commissioner Rosenworcel also deserves our thanks for her vote supporting this order.

"We also must congratulate the Campaign for Prison Phone Justice and our allies at the Center for Media Justice for all the work they have done to make this day possible. This order will make it easier for inmates to maintain connections with their families, friends, pastors and lawyers.

“We will continue to work with the Commission and the broad coalition of groups that have united around this issue to ensure that affordable and quality service is available to everyone.”