Media Contact: 
Mark Wigfield, (202) 418-0253
mark.wigfield@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
Statement by Chairman Wheeler, Commissioner Clyburn on D.C. Circuit 
Partial Stay of Inmate Calling Rate 
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WASHINGTON, March 7, 2016 – Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit granted in part and denied in part motions to delay implementation of portions of the 
FCC’s Nov. 2015 Order reforming inmate calling rates and fees, pending the outcome of petitions 
for court review of the Order. While the D.C. Circuit stayed implementation of new, lower rate
caps, and a related rule limiting fees for certain single call services, the Court otherwise declined 
to delay critical reforms including implementation of caps and restrictions on ancillary fees. 
Relief from these egregious fees will take effect on March 17 for prisons, and June 20 for jails. 
The stay does not disrupt the interim rates set by the Commission in 2013. Chairman Tom 
Wheeler and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn issued the following statement:
“While we regret that relief from high inmate calling rates will be delayed for struggling families 
and their 2.7 million children trying to stay in touch with a loved one, we are gratified that costly 
and burdensome ancillary charges will come to an end. These fees can increase the cost to 
consumers of a call by nearly 40 percent, compounding the burden of rates that are too high. This 
is significant relief, particularly in combination with the 2013 rate caps, and will still provide 
significant and meaningful relief to consumers.   Ultimately, we believe the court will uphold the 
new rates set by the Commission. We look forward to the day when we stop erecting barriers to 
communication and have a system where all rates and fees paid by friends and family to stay in 
touch with their loved ones in jail or prison will be just, fair, and reasonable.”
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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. Cir. 1974).