Family Telephone Connection Protection Act of 2015

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe rules regulating inmate telephone and video service rates, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Family Telephone Connection Protection Act of 2015 2. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) It is the policy of the United States to ensure that all Americans are afforded just and reasonable communications services, including those families that pay rates for inmate telephone and video service. (2) Telephone and video calls are the primary methods by which individuals correspond and maintain contact with family members who are incarcerated in correctional institutions. (3) Except for emergency purposes, family members are not allowed to call people incarcerated in correctional institutions, and incarcerated persons are typically allowed to call family members and other pre-approved individuals only through facilities physically located on the premises of correctional institutions. (4) Inmate telephone and video service in correctional institutions often is limited to collect calling. (5) Regardless of whether the prisoners’ calls are placed collect or through a debit account, the prisoners’ family members typically pay for the calls, either through their telephone bills, in the case of collect calls received from prisoners, or by making deposits directly into prisoners’ debit accounts. (6) It is clear from various studies that maintaining frequent and meaningful communications between people who are incarcerated and family members is key to the successful social reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals. Such contact reduces recidivism and facilitates rehabilitation, which in turn reduces crime and the future costs of imprisonment. (7) Frequent communication between incarcerated persons and family members is burdened, and in some cases, prevented, by excessive inmate telephone and video service rates. Excessive inmate telephone and video service rates thus weaken the family and community ties that are necessary for successful reentry into society by persons who were formerly incarcerated and the reduction in crime resulting from successful reentry. (8) Innocent citizens are paying excessive telephone and video service charges simply due to having a family member or loved one who is incarcerated. (9) The rates for calls from correctional institutions are some of the highest rates in the United States, with some per-minute charges reaching $1 and service or connection charges of $3.00 per call. (10) Information compiled by the Congress and the Federal Communications Commission shows that the high rates are due in part to the lack of competition between companies that provide long distance inmate telephone and video service to correctional institutions. (11) There are no competitive forces providing incentives for those carriers to lower prices or operate efficiently because, unlike the mass market, only one carrier is typically permitted to provide long distance inmate telephone and video service within each correctional institution. (12) High calling rates also are due in part to commissions that carriers pay to correctional institution administrators for the exclusive right to provide long distance inmate telephone and video service in a correctional facility. In some cases, such commissions can account for as much as 60 percent of the total revenues received from the use of prison payphones. (13) The collection of such commissions by correctional institution administrators and State departments of correction based upon interstate telecommunications revenues is a burden on interstate commerce. (14) Due to the lack of competition for telephone and video services within correctional institutions, families of people in prison, many of whom have low incomes, cannot choose the long distance carrier with the lowest calling rates and must pay the excessive rates charged by the carrier having the exclusive right to provide long distance service to the correctional institution from which the call originates. (15) The Commission has the expertise and authority to regulate inmate telephone and video service. Because parties to Commission rulemaking proceedings have raised issues regarding its authority to implement meaningful relief for excessive inmate telephone and video service rates, Congress finds it necessary and appropriate to reaffirm that the Commission has the authority to implement the types of relief set forth in this Act. 3. Restrictions on the provision of inmate telephone and video service (a) Definitions Section 226(a) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 226(a) (10) The term ancillary fee (11) The term collect collect call (12) The term commission (13) The term debit account (14) The term inmate telephone and video service (15) The term provider of inmate telephone and video service . (b) Regulations Section 226 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 226 (1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (k); and (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following: (i) Regulation of inmate telephone and video service (1) In general In order to ensure that charges for inmate telephone and video service are just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Family Telephone Connection Protection Act of 2015 (A) prescribe a maximum uniform per-minute compensation rate; (B) prescribe a maximum uniform service connection or other per-call compensation rate; (C) prescribe variable maximum compensation rates depending on such factors as carrier costs, the size of the correctional facility served, and other relevant factors identified by the Commission; (D) require providers of inmate telephone and video service to offer both collect calling and debit account services; (E) address the payment of commissions by providers of inmate telephone and video service to administrators of correctional institutions, departments of correction, and similar entities by— (i) prohibiting such payments; or (ii) limiting commission payments; (F) require administrators of correctional institutions, departments of correction, and similar entities to allow more than 1 provider of inmate telephone and video service to provide interstate inmate telephone and video service at a correctional institution so that prisoners have a choice of such providers; and (G) prohibit or substantially limit any ancillary fees imposed by a provider of inmate telephone and video service on a user of the service. (2) Scope (A) In general The regulations adopted by the Commission under this subsection— (i) shall be technologically neutral; and (ii) shall not jeopardize legitimate security and penological interests. (B) Impact on revenue To the extent the regulations adopted by the Commission under this subsection reduce or eliminate the revenue derived by administrators of correctional institutions, departments of correction, and similar entities from the receipt of commissions, such effects of the regulations shall not be considered to be jeopardizing or otherwise affecting legitimate security or penological interests. (3) Periodic review The Commission shall review, on a biennial basis, the regulations adopted under this subsection, including to determine whether any compensation rates established by the Commission should be modified. (4) State preemption To the extent that any State, local government, or private correctional facility requirements are inconsistent with the regulations of the Commission affecting or pertaining to inmate telephone and video service, including restrictions on the payment of commissions based upon inmate telephone and video service revenues or earnings, the regulations of the Commission on such matters shall preempt the State, local government, or private correctional facility requirements. (j) Inmate telephone and video service fully subject to sections 201, 205, 251, 252, and 276 (1) In general Inmate telephone and video service shall be fully subject to the requirements of sections 201, 205, 251, 252, and 276. (2) Restriction A provider of inmate telephone and video service may not block or otherwise refuse to carry a call placed by an incarcerated person on the grounds that the provider has no contractual or other arrangement with the local exchange carrier serving the intended recipient of the call or other common carrier involved in any portion of the transmission of the call. .

Summary: Family Telephone Connection Protection Act of 2015 This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to adopt regulations on the use of inmate telephone and video services that enable persons incarcerated in correctional institutions to originate calls at payphones, telephones, or video kiosks designated for the personal use of prisoners. The regulations must: (1) prescribe a maximum uniform per-minute rate and service connection or other per-call rate, (2) prescribe variable maximum rates depending on factors such as carrier costs and the size of the correctional facility, (3) require providers of inmate telephone and video service to offer both collect calling and prepaid debit account services, (4) prohibit or limit the payment of commissions by such providers to administrators of correctional facilities based upon the revenue of the service, (5) require such administrators to allow more than one service provider at a facility so that prisoners have a choice, and (6) prohibit or substantially limit any ancillary fees that are in addition to the per-minute rate and connection charge.