Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced on June 30 that the agency has postponed enforcement of new rules designed to cut the exorbitant cost of prison phone and video calls for loved ones of people in prisons and jails.

Research shows that staying in touch with loved ones who are incarcerated increases safety in prisons and jails, promotes positive mental health, and has long-term benefits that include lower risks of reoffending and an increased likelihood of successful re-entry.

But many families struggle with the high cost of phone calls and video visits, which are especially critical for people incarcerated far away from their families. Staying connected can cost families as much as $500 per month, and more than one in three families reported going into debt or going without food, medical care, and other basic needs to stay in touch with their loved ones.

Family members, people of faith, and advocates have worked for decades to lower the cost of prison phone calls. Despite opposition from private prison telecom companies, Congress passed the bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022, named for an early leader of the effort to reduce unconscionably high phone rates.

In accordance with the law’s requirement that it ensure “just and reasonable” charges for phone and video calls with people in jails and prisons, the FCC unanimously adopted new rules in July 2024 that cap rates, eliminate “ancillary service” charges, and prohibit telecommunications companies from paying commissions or kickbacks to jail and prison operators in exchange for lucrative contracts, thus cutting the cost of prison calls.

As much as 50% of the money that incarcerated people and their families spend on phone and video calls is paid in kickbacks to the government or private corporation (such as GEO Group and CoreCivic) that operates the facility, according to reports. Kickbacks drive up rates and fees for families because prison operators award contracts to telecom companies that charge higher rates and, in turn, pay higher commissions. Banning kickbacks is one way the 2024 rules reduce rates and fees for incarcerated people and their loved ones.

Read the full article about rate reductions for prison phone calls at Equal Justice Initiative.