Responding to “questions” about the status of inmate...
Responding to “questions” about the status of inmate calling service (ICS) provider commission payments to jails and local governments, the FCC Wireline Bureau issued a public notice (http://bit.ly/1qtYdgD) Wednesday reminding interested parties that a partial stay by the U.S. Court…
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of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in January (CD Jan. 14 p3) does not affect aspects of the 2013 inmate calling order related to the commissions. That order found that the commissions “are a significant factor contributing to high rates,” and are not costs associated with providing the calling service and not compensable in ICS rates, the notice said. Based on a complaint, the commission is adjudicating whether interstate inmate calling rates exceed the cost of providing the service, and will factor in commission payments to correctional facilities, the notice said. Should inmate calling rates be considered unjust and unreasonable, the commission may lower interstate ICS rates, even below rate caps, as well as refunds to users, the notice said.