Written By: Curtis A Brown and Allyson Walker

AP Photo/Susan Walsh

Legacy Inmate Communications, a leading provider of inmate communication services to several hundred correctional facilities throughout the United States, has issued its response to last week’s decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to further limit the cost of phone calls from jails and prisons. The new law will affect all types of inmate calls. 

Legacy Believes there are Serious Legal Questions Regarding the FCC’s Jurisdiction to Regulate In-State Inmate Call Rates More...

Written by James Lowery

As Legacy has communicated to our valued clients for the past several months, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been considering proposing new rate regulations on all inmate calling. 

As a recap, in 2013 the FCC capped interstate calling rates at $0.25 for collect calls and $0.21 for prepaid calls (FCC 13-113). Now, in partnership with Commissioner Clyburn, Chairman Wheeler is proposing to cap rates for all ICS calls – local, long-distance, and international – while limiting fees on calls. More...

Written by: Curtis A Brown

Photograph by: Credit Daniel Rosenbaum for The New York Times

FCC 13-113 Overview

On August 9, 2013 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a new rule, FCC 13-113, which imposes a strict inmate interstate call rate cap.  The new rule, which will affect only calls made from one state to another, requires inmate communication providers to charge no more than $0.21 per minute for interstate prepaid calling and $0.25 per minute for interstate collect calling.  It also suggests that further regulation may be still to come, including ancillary charges as well as video visitation services.  Furthermore, the FCC strongly recommends that the states themselves adopt new regulation capping inmate call rates.  Many of our clients have asked if further regulation is on the horizon and what they can expect in the coming months.

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