,i  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #aahd  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,febru>y #af1         
#bjag,mr4 ,ru% 7= himself1 ,mr4         
,butt]field1 & ,ms4 ,norton7 introduc$ !
 foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !         
,committee on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce  ,a     
,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,communications ,act 
( #aicd to require ! ,f$]al             
,communications ,commission to prescribe
 rules regulat+ inmate telephone & video
 s]vice rates1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4   
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,family ,telephone ,connection          
,protection ,act ( #bjag4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,!
 ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,x is ! 
policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to ensure t all
 ,am]icans are af=d$ j & reasonable     
communications s]vices1 includ+ ^?      
families t pay rates = inmate telephone 
& video s]vice4  7#b7 ,telephone & video
 calls are ! prim>y me?ods by :i*       
individuals correspond & ma9ta9 contact 
) family memb]s :o are inc>c]at$ 9      
correctional in/itutions4  7#c7 ,except 

= em]g5cy purposes1 family memb]s are n 
all[$ to call p inc>c]at$ 9 correctional
 in/itutions1 & inc>c]at$ p]sons are    
typically all[$ to call family memb]s & 
o!r pre-approv$ individuals only ?r\gh  
facilities physically locat$ on !       
premises ( correctional in/itutions4    
7#d7 ,inmate telephone & video s]vice 9 
correctional in/itutions (t5 is limit$  
to collect call+4  7#e7 ,reg>dless (    
:e!r ! inmates' calls are plac$ collect 
or ?r\gh a debit acc\nt1 ! inmates'     
family memb]s typically pay = ! calls1  
ei!r ?r\gh _! telephone bills1 9 ! case 
( collect calls receiv$ f inmates1 or by
 mak+ deposits directly into inmates'   
debit acc\nts4  7#f7 ,x is cle> f v>i\s 
/udies t ma9ta9+ frequ5t & mean+ful     
communications betwe5 p :o are inc>c]at$
 & family memb]s is key to ! successful 
social re9tegration ( =m]ly inc>c]at$   
individuals4 ,su* contact r$uces        
recidivism & facilitates rehabilitation1
 :i* 9 turn r$uces crime & ! future co/s
 ( imprisonm5t4  7#g7 ,frequ5t          

communication betwe5 inc>c]at$ p]sons & 
family memb]s is burd5$1 & 9 "s cases1  
prev5t$1 by excessive inmate telephone &
 video s]vice rates4 ,excessive inmate  
telephone & video s]vice rates ?us weak5
 ! family & community ties t are        
necess>y = successful re5try into       
society by p]sons :o 7 =m]ly inc>c]at$ &
 ! r$uction 9 crime result+ f successful
 re5try4  7#h7 ,innoc5t citiz5s are pay+
 excessive telephone & video s]vice     
*>ges simply due to hav+ a family memb] 
or lov$ "o :o is inc>c]at$4  7#i7 ,!    
rates = calls f correctional in/itutions
 are "s ( ! highe/ rates 9 ! ,unit$     
,/ates4  7#aj7 ,in=mation compil$ by !  
,congress & ! ,f$]al ,communications    
,commission %[s t ! high rates are due 9
 "p to ! lack ( competition betwe5      
companies t provide long di/ance inmate 
telephone & video s]vice to correctional
 in/itutions4  7#aa7 ,!re are no        
competitive =ces provid+ inc5tives = ^? 
c>ri]s to l[] prices or op]ate          
effici5tly because1 unlike ! mass m>ket1

 only "o c>ri] is typically p]mitt$ to  
provide long di/ance inmate telephone & 
video s]vice )9 ea* correctional        
in/itution4  7#ab7 ,high call+ rates    
also are due 9 "p to commissions t      
c>ri]s pay to correctional in/itution   
adm9i/rators = ! exclusive "r to provide
 long di/ance inmate telephone & video  
s]vice 9 a correctional facility4 ,9 "s 
cases1 su* commissions c acc\nt = z mu* 
z #fj p]c5t ( ! total rev5ues receiv$ f 
! use ( prison payphones4  7#ac7 ,!     
collection ( su* commissions by         
correctional in/itution adm9i/rators &  
,/ate dep>tm5ts ( correction bas$ ^u    
int]/ate telecommunications rev5ues is a
 burd5 on int]/ate comm]ce4  7#ad7 ,due 
to ! lack ( competition = telephone &   
video s]vices )9 correctional           
in/itutions1 families ( p 9 prison1 _m (
 :om h l[ incomes1 _c *oose ! long      
di/ance c>ri] ) ! l[e/ call+ rates & mu/
 pay ! excessive rates *>g$ by ! c>ri]  
hav+ ! exclusive "r to provide long     
di/ance s]vice to ! correctional        

in/itution f :i* ! call orig9ates4      
7#ae7 ,! ,commission has ! exp]tise &   
au?ority to regulate inmate telephone & 
video s]vice4 ,because p>ties to        
,commission rulemak+ proce$+s h rais$   
issues reg>d+ its au?ority to implem5t  
mean+ful relief = excessive inmate      
telephone & video s]vice rates1         
,congress f9ds x necess>y & appropriate 
to reaffirm t ! ,commission has !       
au?ority to implem5t ! types ( relief   
set =? 9 ?is ,act4  #c4 ,re/rictions on 
! provision ( inmate telephone & video  
s]vice  7a7 ,def9itions ,section        
#bbf7;a7 ( ! ,communications ,act (     
#aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bbf7;a77 is am5d$ 
by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#aj7 ,! t]m
 ancill>y fee means any *>ge or fee t is
 impos$ on a us] ( inmate telephone &   
video s]vice 9 addition to ! p]-m9ute   
rate4  7#aa7 ,! t]m collect or collect  
call means a telephone call or video    
call f a p]son inc>c]at$ 9 a            
correctional in/itution t is bill$ to ! 
subscrib] receiv+ ! call4  7#ab7 ,! t]m 

commission means a fee or o!r paym5t by 
a provid] ( inmate telephone & video    
s]vice to an adm9i/rator ( a            
correctional in/itution1 dep>tm5t (     
correction1 or simil> entity1 bas$ ^u1  
or p>tly ^u1 inmate telephone & video   
s]vice rev5ue4  7#ac7 ,! t]m debit      
acc\nt means ! paym5t ( inmate telephone
 & video s]vice ?r\gh a prepaid c>d or  
o!r acc\nt ( an inmate1 :i* c be access$
 only ?r\gh an access code1 p]sonal     
id5tification numb]1 or simil> id5tifi]4
  7#ad7 ,! t]m inmate telephone & video 
s]vice means ! provision ( telephone &  
video s]vice enabl+ p]sons inc>c]at$ 9  
correctional in/itutions to orig9ate    
calls at payphones1 telephones1 or video
 kiosks t are designat$ = ! p]sonal use 
( inmates1 reg>dless ( :e!r ! calls are 
collect1 paid ?r\gh a debit acc\nt1 or  
paid ?r\gh any o!r means4  7#ae7 ,! t]m 
provid] ( inmate telephone & video      
s]vice means any common c>ri] t provides
 inmate telephone & video s]vice or any 
o!r p]son det]m9$ by ! ,commission to be

 provid+ inmate telephone & video       
s]vice4  4  7b7 ,regulations ,section   
#bbf ( ! ,communications ,act ( #aicd   
7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bbf7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by 
r$esignat+ subsection 7i7 z subsection  
7k72 &  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] subsection  
7h7 ! foll[+3  7i7 ,regulation ( inmate 
telephone & video s]vice  7#a7 ,9 g5]al 
,9 ord] to ensure t *>ges = inmate      
telephone & video s]vice are j1         
reasonable1 & nondiscrim9atory1 n lat]  
?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( !   
,family ,telephone ,connection          
,protection ,act ( #bjag1 ! ,commission 
%all adopt or cont9ue 9 =ce 7z ! case   
may be7 regulations on ! use ( inmate   
telephone & video s]vice t--  7,a7      
prescribe v>iable maximum p]-m9ute      
comp5sation rates dep5d+ on su* factors 
z c>ri] co/s1 ! size ( ! correctional   
facility s]v$1 & o!r relevant factors   
id5tifi$ by ! ,commission2  7,b7        
prohibit p]-call or p]-connection *>ges2
  7,c7 require provid]s ( inmate        
telephone & video s]vice to (f] bo?     

collect call+ & debit acc\nt s]vices2   
7,d7 address ! paym5t ( commissions by  
provid]s ( inmate telephone & video     
s]vice to adm9i/rators ( correctional   
in/itutions1 dep>tm5ts ( correction1 &  
simil> entities by--  7i7 prohibit+ su* 
paym5ts2 or  7ii7 limit+ commission     
paym5ts2  7,e7 require adm9i/rators (   
correctional in/itutions1 dep>tm5ts (   
correction1 & simil> entities to all[ m 
?an #a provid] ( inmate telephone &     
video s]vice to provide int]/ate inmate 
telephone & video s]vice at a           
correctional in/itution s t inmates h a 
*oice ( su* provid]s2 &  7,f7 prohibit  
or sub/antially limit any ancill>y fees 
impos$ by a provid] ( inmate telephone &
 video s]vice on a us] ( ! s]vice4  7#b7
 ,scope  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! regulations   
adopt$ by ! ,commission "u ?is          
subsection-- 7i7 %all be te*nologically 
neutral2 &  7ii7 %all n jeop>dize       
legitimate security & p5ological        
int]e/s4  7,b7 ,impact on rev5ue ,to !  
ext5t ! regulations adopt$ by !         

,commission "u ?is subsection r$uce or  
elim9ate ! rev5ue d]iv$ by adm9i/rators 
( correctional in/itutions1 dep>tm5ts ( 
correction1 & simil> entities f !       
receipt ( commissions1 su* effects ( !  
regulations %all n be consid]$ to be    
jeop>diz+ or o!rwise affect+ legitimate 
security or p5ological int]e/s4  7#c7   
,p]iodic review ,! ,commission %all     
review1 on a bi5nial basis1 !           
regulations adopt$ "u ?is subsection1   
includ+ to det]m9e :e!r any comp5sation 
rates e/abli%$ by ! ,commission %\ld be 
modifi$4  7#d7 ,/ate preemption ,to !   
ext5t t any ,/ate1 local gov]nm5t1 or   
private correctional facility           
requirem5ts are inconsi/5t ) !          
regulations ( ! ,commission affect+ or  
p]ta9+ to inmate telephone & video      
s]vice1 includ+ re/rictions on ! paym5t 
( commissions bas$ ^u inmate telephone &
 video s]vice rev5ues or e>n+s1 !       
regulations ( ! ,commission on su*      
matt]s %all preempt ! ,/ate1 local      
gov]nm5t1 or private correctional       

facility requirem5ts4  7j7 ,inmate      
telephone & video s]vice fully subject  
to sections #bja1 #bje1 #bea1 #beb1 &   
#bgf  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,inmate telephone & 
video s]vice %all be fully subject to ! 
requirem5ts ( sections #bja1 #bje1 #bea1
 #beb1 & #bgf4  7#b7 ,re/riction ,a     
provid] ( inmate telephone & video      
s]vice may n block1 refuse to c>ry1 or  
o!rwise degrade a call plac$ by an      
inmate on ! gr\nds t ! provid] has no   
contractual or o!r arrangem5t ) ! local 
ex*ange c>ri] s]v+ ! int5d$ recipi5t ( !
 call or o!r communications s]vice      
provid] involv$ 9 any portion ( !       
transmission ( ! call4  4