FCC Seeks to Reduce Rates and Charges for Inmate Calling Services

The Federal Communications Commission took a major step toward comprehensively reforming rates and charges for the inmate calling services (ICS) within its jurisdiction. The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has twice rejected and remanded the FCC’s past efforts to address rates and charges for ICS. Recognizing the need of incarcerated individuals and their families to stay connected, the FCC Aug 6 responded to the court’s remands and made several proposals to ensure just and reasonable rates and charges for these services, as required by the Communications Act.

First, the FCC responded to the DC Circuit’s remand on the issue of ancillary service charges. Second, in an accompanying Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FCC proposed new rate caps for interstate ICS calls based on extensive analysis of the most recent cost data submitted by ICS providers.