FCC Delays Enforcement of Prison Call Pricing Limits

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has suspended the enforcement of rules aimed at reducing prison phone and video call prices until April 1st, 2027. The rules, which were set to take effect this year, would have capped the price of a 15-minute phone call at 90 cents in larger prisons. Currently, fees can reach as high as $11.35 for a 15-minute call, which the FCC has described as "exorbitant." Four states have already made prison calls free, and the Martha Wright-Reed law signed by President Joe Biden in 2023 allowed the FCC to regulate prison call rates. The FCC voted to adopt the new rates last year, but FCC Chair Brendan Carr has now reversed this decision, citing "negative, unintended consequences" and the need for higher rates to cover "required safety measures." Carr's decision has been criticized by FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, who argues that the delay is shielding a broken system that inflates costs and rewards kickbacks to correctional facilities. The suspension of the rules means that prisoners and their families will continue to pay high fees for phone and video calls. The FCC's decision has sparked controversy, with some arguing that it prioritizes the interests of correctional facilities over those of prisoners and their families. The delay has also raised concerns about the impact on prisoners' ability to stay in touch with their loved ones. Overall, the FCC's decision has sparked a heated debate about the fairness and transparency of the prison phone call system.