Credits: GTL
In a significant move to reduce the financial burden on incarcerated individuals and their families, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Thursday a dramatic reduction in phone and video call costs for approximately 2 million inmates in U.S. prisons and jails.
Under the new rules, the cost of a 15-minute phone call will drop to 90 cents from as much as $11.35 in large jails and to $1.35 from $12.10 in smaller facilities. Although inmates cannot receive voice calls, families can now schedule video calls through some providers.
For the first time, the FCC will cap video call costs, including for visitations, at 11 to 25 cents per minute, a fraction of the current rates. Additionally, all fees associated with these calls are barred. The specific video call rate will be finalized at a later date, and the FCC plans to study the quality issues related to video calls.
The regulatory changes follow a 2023 congressional legislation granting the FCC broad authority to regulate inmate call costs after the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia reversed previous caps set by the agency in 2017.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the impact of the new rates, describing them as addressing “the unconscionable rates families of the incarcerated pay for communications.” Rosenworcel highlighted that the price of a single call often equaled the cost of an unlimited monthly plan for many individuals.
The FCC estimates that the new rate caps will save prisoners, their friends, and families approximately $386 million. These savings will be phased in over time, easing the financial strain on those supporting incarcerated loved ones.
Rosenworcel also noted the broader social benefits, stating that regular contact with family can significantly reduce the likelihood of inmates returning to crime after their release.
Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a key advocate for the legislation in Congress, celebrated the new rates, declaring that they will put an end to “unjust and unreasonable prison phone rates.”
