FCC Republicans force prisoners and families to pay more for phone calls

In a contentious move, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to raise the maximum allowable prices for phone services used by inmates and their families. The decision, passed with a 2-1 majority by Republican commissioners, has drawn sharp criticism from Democrat Anna Gomez, who warned that the new rates could nearly double in certain facilities. Gomez expressed her concerns during the FCC meeting, arguing that the changes favor corporate service providers at the expense of families striving to maintain connections with their incarcerated loved ones. She stated, "The FCC is prioritizing the financial interests of monopolistic providers, compelling vulnerable families to pay more just to stay in touch." This latest action follows a previous FCC decision in June 2025, which postponed the implementation of new price caps until at least 2027. The revised order modifies how the FCC calculates these caps, incorporating various safety and security costs into the pricing structure. Additionally, the FCC has approved a new charge of $0.02 per minute to cover expenses incurred by correctional facilities. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defended the changes, asserting that they are necessary to ensure that providers can deliver these essential services securely and effectively. He pointed out that previous FCC regulations had been challenged and invalidated in court, leading to ongoing uncertainty in the pricing framework. Carr noted that the rules established under the Democratic majority in 2024 led to serious unintended outcomes, including some facilities scaling back or halting their calling services altogether. He claimed that the current adjustments aim to rectify these issues. However, Gomez and various prisoner advocacy groups remain skeptical of Carr's rationale. The nonprofit organization Worth Rises criticized the Republican commissioners for misrepresenting facts, asserting that only one rural jail—a facility known for human rights violations—discontinued phone services in response to the 2024 regulations and has yet to restore them. They contend that the claims made by FCC leadership undermine the credibility of the new rules intended to improve communication access for incarcerated individuals and their families.