NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C.  20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
Feb. 11, 2014 Mark Wigfield, 202-418-0253
E-mail: mark.wigfield@fcc.gov
Statement By Chairman Wheeler, Commissioners Clyburn and Rosenworcel on Inmate Calling 
Rate Caps Taking Effect
Washington, D.C. – Chairman Tom Wheeler, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, and Commissioner 
Jessica Rosenworcel issued the following statement today:
“Although the wheels of justice often turn slowly, relief for families of inmates has finally arrived. Today, 
a cap on inmate calling rates ordered by the FCC last fall takes effect, slashing the cost of interstate long-
distance calls in some places by over 80%, from as much as $17 for a 15-minute call to a cap of $3.15 for 
that same call. This means that many families will no longer have to choose between talking to their loved 
ones in prison and paying their utility bills. It means that society will benefit from the decreased rates of 
recidivism that family contact brings.
“While we wish our new rates could have taken effect the day we adopted them last year, today is the end 
of an even longer wait – 10 years – for the Washington, D.C. grandmother, Mrs. Martha Wright, who 
petitioned the FCC to act in 2003. Prisoners and their families, especially their children, are among the 
most vulnerable members of society. These families can now afford to keep in touch because the era of 
unreasonable and unjust phones rates has ended. But more remains to be done. We look forward to 
working on further reforms of inmate calling rates to ensure that millions of families can stay connected, 
for the benefit of their loved ones and for the good of our nation.”
-FCC-
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