What Prisons Should Look for in a Telecom Provider
Following pressure from prisoner advocacy groups, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently passed new regulations that will significantly impact the cost of phone calls for prison inmates. Starting in 2025, a 15-minute phone call from a large jail will cost less than a dollar, down from the current rate of $3 on average and more than $11 in many instances. Rates vary by jail or prison size, with the larger facilities able to negotiate better rates.
The FCC’s Updates
The changes are part of a broader effort to reduce the financial burden on incarcerated individuals and their families. Call costs are technically incurred by the recipients, causing one third of these families who are already disproportionately impoverished to go into debt. The new FCC rules will:
- Slash existing per-minute price maximums for interstate calls by more than half.
- Apply the new caps to previously unregulated intrastate calls.
- Establish price maximums for video calls for the first time.
- Prohibit providers from charging extra fees, such as for call monitoring.
- Ban site commissions that give jails a portion of the provider’s revenue.
While these changes are a positive step towards more affordable communication for incarcerated individuals and their loved ones, they do not account for the additional security costs that inmate calling platforms incur. This has raised concerns among providers about the sustainability of their operations under the new pricing caps.
Optimizing Telecom Services—and Costs
As telecom providers debate the efficacy of supporting the penal system, a lot of incarceration facilities are reevaluating their options with an age-old question: how to get more while paying less! But what features are ideal, and what does this service cost?
Finding the ideal VoIP provider can enhance your prison calling services by improving call audio quality and offering superior support while reducing costs. Look for voice services that include multiple carriers and direct network control for reliable real-time troubleshooting, ensuring operations run smoothly with minimal downtime. Intelligent call routing uses machine learning to power the highest quality audio while at the same time significantly lower the cost of voice and text messaging services. Specifically:
- Direct Control and Reliability: Direct carrier integration allows for superior call quality, transparency, and control. It also enables real-time troubleshooting, a significant advantage over traditional platforms that rely on resold networks.
- Superior Customer Support: Look for 24/7 expert assistance plus instant network healing at no extra charge.
- Flexible Transition: Choose a provider with a smooth, well-defined implementation process, minimizing development time and disruption.
The Commio Advantage
At Commio, we work with organizations of all sizes, including some with razor thin margins. We understand the new challenges facing correctional facilities and are committed to supporting you. While we can’t reverse the FCC’s decision, we can help in several significant ways:
- 40+ Direct Network Connections: The Commio platform is the only offering that connects directly with every major network, cutting out the middleman and significantly reducing call costs. Direct connections ensure high-quality voice services at a lower price.
- Special Pricing: Commio is offering special pricing for inmate calling platforms. We value this industry and recognize the importance of maintaining affordable and reliable communication services for incarcerated individuals.
- Operational Efficiency: Commio’s advanced tools are designed to reduce the operational burden related to managing voice quality and deliverability. In many cases, our voice solutions have reduced support requirements by half.
By partnering with Commio, jails and prisons can navigate the new FCC regulations more efficiently, effectively, and affordably. Inmates and their families can communicate better without going into debt, while allowing you to focus on your core functions without being bogged down by high communications bills or complex issues. Contact us to learn more!
