FCC delays the application of prison rate rate ceilings

Chalons one for prison telecommunications – and against family members of prisoners – Gracious Trump’s FCC. Monday, the agency said (via The penis) He would delay the application of an action in 2024 aimed at capping the prison phone calls. The rules should now take effect in April 2027.

FCC commissioner Anna Mr. Gomez criticized the agency’s decision in a declaration. “Today, the FCC has made the indefensible decision to ignore both the law and the will of the congress,” she wrote.

The prison appeal costs vary considerably depending on the state. Last year, FCC said The prices for large prisons could reach $ 11.35 for a 15 -minute audio call. Meanwhile, family members calling smaller prisons could pay up to $ 12.10 for the same period. Rates in other states are much lower, and some have adopted Laws of cost cap.

The fees collected from families and friends of prisoners often include bribes with local prisons and governments. In 2021, Initiate of Business reported (via The penis) that the prison phone call industry raised $ 1.4 billion per year. And it is a system that disproportionately affects women and people of color.

The history of the FCC to regulate these rates is … everywhere. In 2013, the agency plate State -to -state state fees. He then tried to limit intra-state rates, but A federal court blocked this decision. The former president of the FCC, Ajit Pai, appointed by Trump, the first mandate, chose not to appeal this decision.

Then a new administration caused another quarter of work. Below Jessica Rosenworcel’s leadershipThe FCC has again moved to the cost cap. In 2023, the former president Biden signed legislation Clarify that the FCC has the power to regulate them. Last year, the FCC adopted the order Establish the details of these rate ceilings. It seemed that the book was about to be closed.

And then, Donald Trump returned to the post. This brings us back to today, the current president of the FCC, Brendan Carr, issued the two -year delay. He cited “negative and involuntary consequences” of the 2024 order. He said that the rate ceilings were too low to cover the cost of security measures. Carr said the delay would allow local governments and states to explore other sources of funding.

FCC commissioner, Gomez painted the decision of her colleagues as a blatant attempt to escape the law. “Rather than enforcing the law, the Commission is now blocking, protecting a broken system which inflates costs and rewards the bribes to correctional installations to the detriment of incarcerated individuals and their loved ones,” she wrote. “Instead of taking targeted measures to respond to specific concerns, the FCC has exempted a derogation from two years which undermines the intention of the law and postpones significant relief for millions of families. It is a blatant attempt to bypass the law, and this will not be incontestable before the court.”