Corrections_Today_Spring_2026_Vol.88_No.1

News&Views

WASHINGTON WATCH

FCC changes prison and jail communication rates What’s new and what’s next By BBM Staff

New interim audio rate caps (per minute) – Prisons: $0.09 – Jails 1,000+ ADP: $0.08 – Jails 350–999 ADP: $0.10 – Jails 100–349 ADP: $0.11 – Jails 50–99 ADP: $0.13 – Jails 0–49 ADP (“extremely small jails”): $0.17 New interim video rate caps (per minute) – Prisons: $0.23 – Jails 1,000+ ADP: $0.17 – Jails 350–999 ADP: $0.17 – Jails 100–349 ADP: $0.19 – Jails 50–99 ADP: $0.23 – Jails 0–49 ADP: $0.42 Facility-cost additive Facilities may recover admin istrative costs through a uniform additive of up to $0.02 per minute, applied on top of the rate caps. Other key changes – Prohibits “site commissions” or any compensation tied to contract award/renewal. – Applies rate caps to interstate and intrastate services.

Adobe Stock/wichientep

T he Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released two major actions affecting communication services used in cor rectional facilities nationwide. The Final Rule establishes new interim rate caps for audio and video ser vices and updates how correctional facilities may recover administra tive costs. The Proposed Rule seeks additional comment to shape permanent rate caps and future data collection under the Martha Wright Reed Act.

Final Rule: New Interim Rates for IPCS Final Rule (90 FR 56013)

The FCC adopted new interim rate caps after determining previ ous caps resulted in operational challenges for both providers and correctional facilities. The FCC notes the updated framework incor porates safety and security costs, uses a “billed-minutes-only” meth odology, and creates a new tier for small jails.

Corrections Today | Spring 2026

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