Wireline

摘要

Global Tel-Link, one of the nation’s largest providers of inmate calling services (ICS), said thenFCC “must continue to defer to state and local authorities” on whether prison phone rates aren“reasonable” (http://bit.ly/10LEVtT). In response to the FCC’s NPRM on prison phone call reforms (CDnDec 31 p6), GTL sided with state departments of correction and law enforcement groups in defending thenrates. The rates which fund “sophisticated security elements,” GTL said, are properly determined by localnpolicymakers. ICS present “unique issues that are not susceptible to one-size-fits-all federal regulation,”nthe provider said. The FCC does have “broad license” to ensure “just and reasonable” interstate callingnrates, “but the power is not absolute,” GTL said. “While the FCC has certain obligations under the Act,nthe historic regulation of prisons by the states and the unique challenges presented by state prisons andnICS, place regulation of ICS more appropriately with the states.” Dozens of prisoners and Deaf advocacynorganizations have urged the FCC to step in (CD March 26 p6).