Today, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the Inmate Calling Technical Corrections Act of 2018, which would clarify the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to cap intrastate inmate calling rates and address a market failure to protect American families who communicate with prisoners, inmates and detainees.
The bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Brian Schatz (D-HI), provides the FCC with appropriate authority to make sure that inmate calling services are priced reasonably and fairly for consumers and not just communications providers. Public Knowledge supports open and affordable access to communications for everyone, including prison inmates and their families.
The following can be attributed to Chris Lewis, Vice President at Public Knowledge:
“For too long family members who committed no crime have borne the burden of price gouging and unreasonable rates when calling loved ones behind bars. Families have fought for justice in phone rates in the courts and at the FCC and been turned away over legal definitions.
“Reasonable rates for phone calls keep children connected to parents and can reduce recidivism rates. This is why we applaud Senator Duckworth and this group of bipartisan Senators for empowering the FCC to protect Americans who simply want to speak with their loved ones. We encourage all members of Congress to support this legislation to correct this inequity as soon as possible.”
You may learn more about our prison phone work.
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.