JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY 9TH DISTRICT . ILUNOIS COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE CHIEF DEPUTY WHIP Qlnugrenn nf tqr llnitrh ~tatrn ibjoum? of 1!\.epr.e.a.entattu1w Jt!lasqtugfnu, mm 20515-1309 October 21, 2015 The Honorable Tom Wheeler, Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20554 RE: Comment for WC Docket 12-375 Dear Chairman Wheeler: 2367 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING Telephone: 202 -225 -2111 Fax : 202-226 -6890 TTY: 202 -224-3901 5533 N. BROADWAY, SUITE 2 CHICAGO, IL 60640 Telephone: 773 -506 -7100 Fax: 773-506-9202 1852 JOHNS DRIVE GLENVIEW, IL 60025 Telephone: 84 7 -328- 3409 Fax: 84 7-328 -3425 I appreciate the opportunity to submit comments to the Federal Communications Commission's Proposed Rulemaking (WC Docket No. 12-375) on Inmate Calling Services. I urge you to adopt the proposed comprehensive reform of intrastate, interstate, and international Inmate Calling Services to address the unreasonable costs of communication for inmates and their families. The proposed rule would establish caps on the cost of telephone calls made on an intrastate and international basis, adding to the current interstate authority. While I would prefer calls to cost even less, this is an important step forward. Lowering phone rates for inmates is not only a matter of fairness; it is a matter of public interest. Studies consistently find that incarcerated individuals who maintain close contact with family members while incarcerated have better post-release outcomes and lower recidivism rates. Given the evidence, it should be a priority to make communication with family available and affordable. The high cost of prison phone calls is also a significant barrier and financial burden to families who want maintain contact with an incarcerated loved one. Research has shown the fees associated with staying in touch with a loved one are paid mostly by family members, with female family members bearing most of the cost. More than one in three (43%) families with an incarcerated family member went into debt to cover the cost of staying in contact with that family member. This is a particular burden for women who find themselves struggling to meet the needs of their families. In addition, the lack of contact with an incarcerated parent may have long-term impacts on children. More than 27 million children living in the United States have an incarcerated parent. For many of them, telephone calls may be the only way to maintain a relationship with a parent who is incarcerated many miles away. Champaign County, Illinois operates a system that proves it is possible to provide inexpensive and efficient phone services to inmates. Not only has the County been able to maintain low phone service costs by eliminating commissions, it has been able to expand communications options by offering video visitations. This example proves there is no justification for the exorbitant cost of phone calls currently faced by inmates. WEBSITE: http ://w w w .schakowsky .house.gov PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER