Well, that would be the United States of America – until this morning, that is, when the FCC voted to make prison calls affordable. Thank you for heading up this valuable initiative Commissioner Mignon Clyburn.
Today (Thursday, 21 October 2015), the Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to cap the rates and fees companies charge those families struggling to keep in touch with incarcerated relatives by phone. That change came as a direct result of mounting pressure from groups across the country.
The new cap could represent a 50% drop in prison phone call costs. State and federal prison phone rates will be capped at 11 cents a minute. Jail rates will be capped anywhere from 14 to 22 cents per minute.
http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=QVhtfDLjLFR1k5zrFuy9LdXliUqXFl66
VICTORY! The @FCC just reduced predatory phone rates & ban abusive hidden fees on calls from jails, prisons, detention Cntrs. #PhoneJustice
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 22, 2015
Today’s @FCC vote to cap prison phone fees is a good step toward reforming our broken criminal justice system in America. #PhoneJustice
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) October 22, 2015
Jermaine Chambers’ graphic shared by Campaign for Prison Phone Justice