The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced on Apr. 9 the adoption of permanent rate caps for calling services used by incarcerated individuals in California, aiming to make communication more affordable for those in correctional facilities and their families.
The new rules cap intrastate calling rates at $0.045 per minute for debit, prepaid, and collect calls, while also maintaining restrictions on ancillary fees associated with these services. These protections apply to all telephone companies providing intrastate calling to incarcerated individuals in facilities not already covered by state policies offering free calls.
According to the CPUC, providers must adhere to several requirements: a permanent $0.045 per minute rate cap; continued bans on single-call, paper bill, live agent, and automated payment fees; third-party financial transaction fees limited to pass-through costs capped at $6.95 per transaction; government taxes and fees allowed only as pass-through charges without markup; and a prohibition on any additional ancillary service charges unless explicitly approved by the CPUC.
A study submitted in a Federal Communications Commission proceeding found that family contact improves outcomes after release from incarceration and can reduce recidivism. “Maintaining communication with family members is critical for rehabilitation and successful reentry into society,” said CPUC Commissioner Darcie L. Houck. “By establishing permanent rate protections, the CPUC is helping ensure that incarcerated Californians and their loved ones can stay connected without facing unreasonable costs. This decision extends rate protections to all local and federal facilities in California, ensuring that people held in these facilities are charged just and reasonable rates.” President John Reynolds said: “For too long, the families of incarcerated Californians have faced unnecessarily high costs just to stay in touch with their loved ones. This decision establishes clear, permanent safeguards that prevent excessive rates and hidden fees while ensuring that communication services remain accessible and fair for the people who rely on them most.”
The CPUC began this process in 2020 to review telecommunications service conditions for incarcerated people across California. Interim rate caps were set at $0.07 per minute in 2021 while further data was collected about provider costs and market conditions before this final framework was established.
Providers must now implement these adopted caps along with fee requirements, submit compliance filings to the commission, and notify affected parties about new rates as well as consumer protections.
