Cmj Joint Letter to Fcc Re Wright Petition 11-5-12
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November 5, 2012 Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street. S.W. Washington, DC 20554 Re: Joint Ex-‐Parte Comment for CC Docket No. 96-‐128 (“Wright Petition”) Dear Secretary Dortch: We, the undersigned, are contacting you in reference to CC Docket No. 96-‐128 (known as the “Wright Petition”). On behalf of the communities we represent, we urge the FCC to take action to address the cost of interstate phone rates, which falls squarely within the FCC’s jurisdiction. The cost of prison phone calls—which can only be called exorbitant—are the direct result of a monopoly system that undermines the communication between incarcerated individuals and their family. As data shows, over half of prisoners with children are held more than 100 miles away from where they lived previously, and 10 percent are held over 500 miles away.1 As a result, traveling for in-‐person visits is time consuming and expensive–and thus unaffordable for many. Given this, access to low-‐cost phone service options should be part of the connectivity equation. However, a typical 15-‐minute call can cost more than $17 in our correctional phone services market which is dominated by Global Tel*Link (50 percent), and Securus (30 percent).2 We believe connecting incarcerated individuals with their families and loved ones should be a national priority! The health and wellbeing of our communities should not be sacrificed for a telecommunications service that exploits our need for family connectivity. We are not alone-‐-‐research and public opinion are on our side. Childhood development experts say that regular contact between family members and their incarcerated loved ones is essential for everyone’s health and wellbeing.3 Further, studies show that regular communication between inmates and their support system can also help reduce the likelihood of a 1 http://www.urban.org/publications/310882.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-‐10-‐04/prison-‐phones-‐prove-‐captive-‐market-‐for-‐private-‐equity 3 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clarissa-‐ramon/truth-‐about-‐prison-‐phones_b_1856657.html 2 return to prison. Additionally, a recent poll found that 81 percent of African-‐Americans and 70 percent of Latinos believe it is unacceptable for calls from prison to be higher than those outside of prison.4 As the only agency with jurisdiction over long distance rates, the undersigned believe the Federal Communications Commission is the correct venue to resolve this problem. We urge the FCC to follow its mandate and ensure “reasonable rates” for consumers in the telecommunications market, and protect our communities from this abusive practice by capping interstate prison phone call rates. Sincerely, amalia deloney Associate Director Supporting Organizations: ACORN8 Alabama State Association of Cooperatives Art is Change AYPAL Causa Justa:: Just Cause Center for Popular Economics Center for Rural Strategies Center for Third World Organizing Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice Chicago Media Action Coalition for Democratic Pacifica Coalition to End Sheriff Violence in L.A. Jails Common Frequency Community Alliance for Global Justice Community Media Services Community Media Workshop Community Technology Network Consumers Union Deep Dish TV East Bay Saturday Dialogues East Bay Social Forum 4 http://www.mediafire.com/?eu30asfsttb0tb9 Ella Baker Center for Human Rights Enlace Esperanza Peace & Justice Center eTc Campaign Families Rally for Emancipation a nd Empowerment Free Press Fuerza Mundial Communications Generation Justice Global Action Project Gordon Bernell Charter School Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training Greene County Democrat H.O.M.E.Y Harris County Green Party Highlander Research and Education Center Hispanic Organizations Leadership Alliance Immigrant Rights Clinic, Washington Square Legal Services Institute for Local Self-‐Reliance Instituto de Educacion Popular Del Sur de California kpfa La Asamblea de Derechos Civilies Latino/a Social Work Coalition Legal Services for Prisoners with Children Line Break Media Main Street Project roject Making Contact /National Radio P Martinez Street Women's Center Media Action Center Media Alliance Media Literacy Project Media Mobilizing Project BQ, NM Metropolitan Detention Center, A MI-‐CURE Minnesota Center for Neighborhood Organizing Mujeres Unidas y Activas My Community NM National Hispanic Media Coalition New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute New Sanctuary Coalition Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition OneLife Institute Open Access Connections Organization for Black Struggle Organizing Apprenticeship Project People's Health Movement Prison Creative Arts Project Progressive States Network Prometheus Radio Project Public Knowledge Project Queer Women of Color Media Arts Quote...Unquote, Inc. REV/People's Production House Rural Coalition San Francisco Bay View Newspaper smartmeme SouthWest Organizing Project Southwest Workers Union Storycatchers Theatre Strong Families The Advocates for Human Rights The LAMP The Maysles Institute The Peoples Channel & Durham C ommunity Media The Praxis Project The Utility Reform Network Trans Youth Support Network U of M Hospital Urbana-‐Champaign Independent Media Center Vermont Workers' Center Voice of Witness W. Haywood Burns Institute Waves of Change William C. Velasquez Institute Working Narratives Young Women United
