{"id":8425,"date":"2015-10-22T13:42:48","date_gmt":"2015-10-22T18:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thewei.com\/kimi\/?p=8425"},"modified":"2015-10-22T13:42:48","modified_gmt":"2015-10-22T18:42:48","slug":"the-people-won-prison-phone-justice-today-thanks-fcc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewei.com\/kimi\/the-people-won-prison-phone-justice-today-thanks-fcc\/","title":{"rendered":"The People won prison phone justice today \u2013 thanks FCC!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"We<\/a>
Graphic by Jermaine Chambers<\/figcaption><\/figure>What kind of a nation would lock up 10% of its adult population long term for minor crimes like smoking a marijuana joint or stealing a jacket … and on top of that, make calling home so expensive for prisoners it became virtually impossible?<\/p>\n

Well, that would be the United States of America \u2013 until this morning, that is, when the FCC voted to make prison calls affordable<\/a>. Thank you for heading up this valuable initiative Commissioner Mignon Clyburn.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

http:\/\/org2.salsalabs.com\/dia\/track.jsp?v=2&c=QVhtfDLjLFR1k5zrFuy9LdXliUqXFl66<\/p>\n

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VICTORY! The @FCC<\/a> just reduced predatory phone rates & ban abusive hidden fees on calls from jails, prisons, detention Cntrs. #PhoneJustice<\/a><\/p>\n

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 22, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n