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FCC Votes to Raise Prison Phone Rates, Critics Alarmed

10/30/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 2-1 to raise prison phone rates to about $1.65 per 15-minute call, with critics saying the move benefits telecoms and state governments.
The decision reverses earlier efforts to lower costs and could erase about $386 million in annual savings for inmates and their families.
Brendan Carr, the chair of the FCC, says the prior rates harmed safety and security.

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Story summary

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 2-1 to raise prison phone rates to about $1.65 per 15-minute call, with critics saying the move benefits telecoms and state governments.
The decision reverses earlier efforts to lower costs and could erase about $386 million in annual savings for inmates and their families.
Brendan Carr, the chair of the FCC, says the prior rates harmed safety and security.