'Huge Step': FCC Slashes Costs of Prison Phone Calls

[tishaLA]

Federal regulators took new steps on Thursday to slash the cost of calls in prison, which can run as high as $14 a minute.

The latest action by the Federal Communications Commission — described as a "huge step forward" by one prison reform group — eliminates or limits fees commonly tacked on by the phone service providers. It also capped the maximum cost of a 15-minute in-state or local call at $1.65 and lowered the per-minute rate.

The new rules affect inmates in federal and state prisons, including immigrant detention centers. They also apply to local jails, though rates are higher in smaller facilities.

"Calls that used to cost a dollar a minute now could be as low as 11 cents," said Aleks Kajstura, legal director at the Prison Policy Initiative, which has been pushing to make prison calls more affordable. <...> http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/huge-step-fcc-slashes-costs-prison-phone-calls-n449286

This is really excellent news

[notadmblnd]

1. This is really good news.

There was a video posted here the other day in regards to the high cost of calls both to and from inmates.

[Nye Bevan]

2. Call me a "bleeding heart liberal" but I would make those calls free.

Nothing has been shown to reduce recidivism rates like staying in touch with family and friends while serving the sentence.

[tishaLA]

3. I nearly agree with you

I think a nominal fee is fair--11 cents/minute is still too high, for example, but it beats the hell out of $14! That's just an incredible figure.