Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 25, 2020
Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act
This bill establishes requirements related to certain charges, practices, classifications, or regulations in connection with confinement facility communications services.
Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish maximum rates and charges that a provider of confinement facility communications services may charge for such services. The bill provides interim rate caps until the FCC establishes such rates and charges.
The bill requires a provider of confinement facility communications services to assess all charges for communications on a per-minute basis for the actual duration of the communication, and it prohibits a provider from charging a per-communication or per-connection charge. A provider also may not charge an ancillary service charge except in certain circumstances.
Further, the bill prohibits a provider from assessing a site commission, which is a payment or donation made to certain entities that operate or oversee a confinement facility.
Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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