Congress passes bill requiring prison phone rates to be ‘just and reasonable’

Prison phone call bill overview:

• Who: Congress has passed a bipartisan bill that requires prison phone rates to be “just and reasonable.”
• Why: Inflated prison phone call rates can interfere with inmates’ ability to communicate with their families while incarcerated.
• Where: The new law will apply to all prisons, jails, and detention centers in the United States.

Congress has passed a bipartisan bill that will require the Federal Communications Commission to regulate prison phone call rates, Law360 reports.

The Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act requires the FCC to ensure that fees for the use of pay phones in correctional institutions are charged at “just and reasonable” rates.

The prison phone rates bill was initially introduced by Senator Tammy Ducksorth in 2021. On Dec. 22, the House passed the bipartisan bill, which had gained support from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

The prison phone call bill must be signed by the president before it becomes law.

New prison phone rates bill will help inmates maintain communication with families

Reasonable prison phone call rates help inmates maintain communication with their families while incarcerated, which also makes it easier to reunite with loved ones after they are released, the bill’s supporters say.

Currently, prison phone rates can cost more than $1 per minute in state prisons and local jails. The only restriction on these charges is that the rates are “fair,” but courts have reportedly held that this restriction only applies to the rates providers pay to each other and not to the prisoners.

The new bill does not establish specific prison phone rates or caps, Law360 notes. It will apply to all types of prison communications methods in all detention centers throughout the United States.

“Too many families of incarcerated people must pay outrageous rates to stay connected with their loved ones,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “This harms the families and children of the incarcerated–and it harms all of us because regular contact with kin can reduce recidivism.”

Rosenworcel notes that the FCC had worked to address the issue but was limited in its ability to regulate prison phone calls made within a state’s borders.

Inflated prison phone rates have been a contentious issue. A class action lawsuit filed in 2020 accused several prison phone providers of colluding to inflate the charges for calls made from prisons and jails in the country.

Do you think the FCC should regulate prison phone rates? Join the discussion in the comments!

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