Federal Communications Commission FCC 12-167 
STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN
Re: Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services, WC Docket No. 12-375
Today, we officially answer the call from tens of thousands of consumers who have written, 
emailed, and yes, phoned the Commission, pleading for relief on interstate long distance rates from 
correctional facilities. As discussed in the Notice, the nearly ten year old “Wright Petition,” was filed on 
behalf of friends and family of the incarcerated, who generally pay significantly higher toll rates than 
those offered for the typical interstate, long distance call.  This NPRM requests information from 
providers of inmate calling services in order for the Commission to determine whether those rates are just 
and reasonable.  It also seeks comment on various options submitted in the record, to limit those rates.  I 
encourage providers to file detailed cost information and to work with the Commission, as well as the 
interested consumer and public interest groups, to find workable solutions to this important issue.
The telephone is a crucial instrument for the incarcerated, and those who care about them, 
because voice calling is often the only communications option available. Most inmates along with their 
families and friends are low-income, so in-person visits due to distance and expense are infrequent.  It is 
not uncommon for state prisons to be located hundreds of miles away from urban centers, but even in 
places where the facility is nearby, the engagement often requires a significant amount of time to clear 
security.  And because many of these complexes are frequently overcrowded and ill-equipped to handle 
the volume of visitors, the wait (not even to mention the economic burden of missing work, etc.) is quite 
severe.
So why should the rest of us care? Maintaining contact with family and friends during 
incarceration not only helps the inmate, but it is beneficial to our society as a whole.  There are well over 
two million children with at least one parent behind bars and regardless of their circumstances, both 
children and parents gain from regular contact with one another.  Studies also show that those released are 
less likely to reoffend if they are able to maintain relationships with their loved ones while they are in 
prison.  With seven hundred thousand individuals released every year from these institutions, it is crucial 
that we do whatever we can to strengthen family ties before these individuals return home.  One sure way 
to realize this is through the provisioning of affordable phone service.  The overall costs of not doing so 
are too great, for those who re-offend place a substantially higher economic burden on taxpayers than any 
lost proceeds that would result from lower prison phone rates.  
It is important, however, that any steps taken do not jeopardize quality phone service to and from 
correctional facilities, and that the security features needed by law enforcement remain intact. But the 
time is now for us to have an honest discussion about the use of site commissions and their impact on 
low-income families.  We are seeking that information in this Notice.
I want to thank the Chairman and my colleagues for their work on and their support for this 
Notice, as well as our staff who spent many hours sifting through the thousands of pages of this decade 
old proceeding.  It also is important to recognize the hard work of the community-based social, media 
justice, religious, legal and immigration organizations, the FCC’s own Consumer Advisory Committee 
and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.  All have been bringing significant 
attention to this issue and have urged this Commission and our state counterparts to review these rates and 
act, where necessary, to protect consumers.  As a result, we have seen several states take action to lower 
their rates and today, I am pleased that this Commission is gathering the information it needs to  ensure 
that all consumers have access to just and reasonable interstate rates.