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Lowering Prison Phone Call Costs: Ensuring Just Rates for Families.

This Act mandates "just and reasonable" maximum rates for phone and video communication services from confinement facilities, significantly reducing costs for families and support systems. It bans site commission payments, which previously inflated prices, aiming to strengthen relationships and decrease recidivism. The FCC is required to set these permanent maximum rates based on average industry costs within 18 months.
Key points
Immediate interim rate caps are set for voice calls from facilities: $0.04 per minute (debit/prepaid) and $0.05 per minute (collect calling).
Total prohibition of site commissions (kickbacks) paid by communication providers to correctional facilities.
Elimination of per-communication or per-connection charges; all charges must be assessed solely on a per-minute basis for the actual duration of the call.
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Additional Information
Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act
Print number: HR 2489
Sponsor: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]
Process start date: 2021-04-13