NARUC's Statement on FCC's Decision on Intrastate Inmate Calling Rates

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For Immediate Release: January 31, 2017 

Contact: Regina L. Davis, 202-898-9382, rdavis@naruc.org

NARUC’s Statement on FCC’s Decision on Intrastate Inmate Calling Rates

Agency Abandons Arguments That It Can Cap Rates

WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission today filed a letter in response to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ appeal of the FCC’s inmate calling order. NARUC challenged the FCC’s ability to cap intrastate rates. According to the FCC’s letter, the agency is abandoning that argument. In response to this decision, NARUC has issued the following statement:

“NARUC appealed this order because agencies should be required to adhere to the rule of law. Whatever the merits of the FCC’s decision, the fact is, Congress simply did not give the agency authority to cap intrastate rates for these services. We appreciated the current FCC majority’s original dissents earlier before the agency and we appreciate their actions here.”

--NARUC President Robert F. Powelson of Pennsylvania

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NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC's member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of State public utility commissions before the three branches of the Federal government.