Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Inmate Calling Technical Corrections Act of 2018”.
Inmate Calling Technical Corrections Act of 2018
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to ensure just and reasonable charges for inmate telephone and advanced communications services.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress finds the following:
Prison, jails, and detention centers in the United States have unique telecommunications needs due to safety and security concerns.
Unjust and unreasonable charges negatively impact the safety and security of communities in the United States by exacerbating recidivism by damaging relationships between inmates and their support systems.
It is the policy of the United States to ensure that all people in the United States, including anyone who pays for communications with inmates via telephone and advanced communications, are afforded just and reasonable charges for all communications services.
The current inmate communications market suffers from market failure. Among other issues, consumers cannot choose among competing providers, which produces locational monopolies and monopoly profits at the expense of rate-payers.
Charges for communicating with individuals detained in prisons, jails, and detention centers have been shown to be unjust and unreasonable as a result of industry practices and lack of competition.
Unjust and unreasonable charges extend to telephone and advanced communications services and to both intrastate and interstate communications.
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit interpreted section 276 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 276) in the case of Global Tel*Link v. Federal Communications Commission, 866 F.3d 397 (D.C. Cir. 2017), in part by constricting the meaning of the word “fair” and limiting the means by which the Federal Communications Commission can calculate fair, just, and reasonable charges.
Sec. 3 Technical amendments
in subsection (b)(1)(A)—
by striking “per call”;
by inserting “, and all charges are just and reasonable,” after “fairly compensated”;
by striking “each and every”; and
by striking “call using” and inserting “communications using”; and
in subsection (d), by inserting “and advanced communications services” after “inmate telephone service”.
Definition of advanced communications services— Section 3(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153(1)) is amended—
in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(E) any audio or video communications service provided at a correctional institution, regardless of technology used.”
Application of the Act— Section 2(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 152(b)) is amended by inserting “section 276,” after “sections 223 through 227, inclusive,”.
Sec. 4 Implementation
Rulemaking— Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall promulgate any regulations necessary to implement this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
Use of data— In implementing this Act and the amendments made by this Act, including by promulgating regulations under subsection (a) and determining just and reasonable rates, the Federal Communications Commission may use industry average costs and collect and analyze such data as the Commission determines necessary.