Press Call: Advocates Call for FCC Action to Reform Predatory Prison Phone Rates
WASHINGTON, DC – Thursday, Aug 8th at 11:00 AM EDT, one day before the Federal Communications Commission will vote on a rule to reform the predatory phone rates charged to the families of inmates, civil rights and religious groups and the attorney petitioning the commission on the issue will host a press call to encourage the FCC to vote in favor of reform.
Prisons extract commissions from telephone companies in exchange for service contracts. These extra fees are passed on to prisoners’ families in the form of predatory rates for a captive audience. Phone calls placed from within prisons can result in charges of more than $60 for a one-hour call.
The groups on the call support reform because these inflated costs dim the prospects of prisoners reintegrating into society and undermine relationships with loved ones.
WHO:
- Wade Henderson, president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- Lee G. Petro, Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP, pro bono counsel representing FCC petitioner Martha Wright
- amalia deloney, associate director of the Center for Media Justice
- Galen Carey, vice president of government relations for the National Association of Evangelicals
-
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font-family:”Times New Roman”,”serif”;}Hilary Shelton, Washington bureau chief of the NAACP
- Available for Q&A: Cheryl Leanza, telecommunications expert for the United Church of Christ
WHAT: Press call with experts, religious, and civil rights groups urging the FCC to end predatory prison phone rates.
WHEN: Thursday, Aug 8th at 11:00 AM EDT
CALL-IN INFO: 866-952-7524 – Verbal Passcode: “Reform”