Human Rights Defense Center
DEDICATED TO PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS

September 18, 2014

Submitted Online Only

The Honorable Tom Wheeler, Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554
Re:

Comment for WC Docket No. 12-375
(Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking)

Dear Chairman Wheeler:
We submit this comment for the purpose of placing into the record data related to intrastate ICS
rates for county jails in the State of Washington, to further inform the Commission about issues
concerning prison and jail phone services.
In 2013 and early 2014, the Human Rights Defense Center collected data from the 37 county
jails in Washington State plus the Washington DOC, and this comment details the information
produced by each agency at that time. HRDC is currently in the process of gathering additional
data, including updated ICS rates and contracts where applicable, as well as data on commission
payments. While not complete, this is the most comprehensive compilation of ICS data for state
and local detention facilities within a single state. Although telecom providers and jails have this
information readily available, of course, they typically do not voluntarily enter it into the public
record or provide it to the Commission.
A chart detailing intrastate ICS rates in Washington State is attached as Exhibit A; we have not
included interstate data due to the Commission’s cap on interstate rates that went into effect last
February. As the chart reflects, there is broad disparity in ICS rates within each category based
on jail population size, even among jails with the same ICS provider.
Securus Technologies, for example, provides ICS service to jails in Clallam and Kittitas counties
(100-399 beds) and jails in Asotin and Yakima counties (50-100 beds). Fifteen-minute interlata
collect calls from the Clallam County jail cost $6.39, while comparable calls from the Kittitas
County jail are $12.94. Likewise, a 15-minute interlata call from the Asotin County jail is $6.89
while a similar call from the Yakima County jail costs less than half that – $3.00.
______________________________________________________________________
P.O. Box 1151
Lake Worth, FL 33460
Phone: 561.360.2523 Fax: 866.735.7136
pwright@prisonlegalnews.org

Page | 2

Fifteen-minute local collect calls from the thirteen jails in Washington State that contract with
Securus cost from $2.25 to $6.89; intralata collect calls range from $3.00 to $10.44; and interlata
collect calls range from $3.00 to $12.94.
Meanwhile, Global Tel*Link (GTL) charges $18.24 for a 15-minute interlata collect call at the
Stevens County jail and $17.30 for a comparable call from the Grant County jail; however, the
Washington DOC, which also contracts with GTL, charges only $3.04 for a similar call.
In terms of population size, a 15-minute interlata collect call from the Snohomish County jail
costs $13.39 while a comparable call from the King County jail is $3.50. Both jails have over
1,000 beds. The Thurston County jail charges $12.80 for an interlata collect call and Whatcom
County charges $5.85; both jails have 400-699 beds. A local call at the Island County jail costs
$2.25 while a local call from the Mason and Clallam county jails costs $6.39. All of those jails
have 100-399 beds. For jails with under 50 beds, a local collect call from Whitman County is
$2.29 and a similar call from Walla Walla County costs $6.39; an intralata collect call from the
Adams County jail is $11.45 while a comparable call from Stevens County costs $4.30. And
an interlata collect call from the Stevens County jail is $18.24 while a similar call from Walla
Walla County costs $6.39.
This data indicates that the cost of providing ICS service is not the determinative factor in setting
the rates, as some ICS providers have suggested, given the vast disparities in rates among jails
of different sizes, including those that contract with the same ICS provider. Different size jails
have different levels of prisoner “churn,” different populations, and require different numbers
of phones and related ICS equipment. Plus all jails require a minimum level of security features
to ensure ICS services are provided in a safe and secure manner. Yet according to the chart, there
is no discernable relationship between jail population size and phone rates.
HRDC is also examining ancillary fees for ICS services in Washington State, and has obtained
partial data in that regard which is not included in the attached chart. For example, GTL does
not charge a prepaid account setup fee, but rather a flat fee of $6.95 each time a deposit is made
into a prepaid account using a credit card. GTL accepts deposits in amounts ranging from $25 to
$100; the deposit fee is $6.95 regardless of the amount deposited. Thus, GTL charges a 28% fee
to make a $25 deposit to a prepaid account and a 7% fee for a $100 deposit – i.e., the same fixed
fee with the only difference being the amount of the deposit.
According to GTL’s website, the company also assesses a fee of 4% of the cost of calls made to
cell phones, and charges a $5.00 “investigation fee” for dropped calls when consumers request
refunds, if the investigation (by GTL) finds that “the disconnection is not due to a fault on the
phone lines.” Additionally, a processing fee may be imposed when an “account is closed and a
refund is issued.” 1
The Klickitat County jail contracts with Custom Teleconnect, Inc. to provide prepaid calling
cards. In-state cards can be purchased for $25 for 50 minutes, $50 for 100 minutes and $100 for
200 minutes ($.50/min). Such cards are used to make intrastate calls. A $5.00 flat fee is charged
for all in-state cards, which represents a 20% fee for a $25 card and 5% fee for a $100 card.

1

https://www.connectnetwork.com/help/help.jsp

Page | 3

Based on the above information and the data reflected in the attached chart, the intrastate ICS
rates at many Washington jails are not fair, just or reasonable. Rather, they appear to be driven
by the payment of commissions to government agencies intent on monetizing communication
between prisoners and their family members, friends and other call recipients.
There is no correlation between facility size and the ICS rates charged. There is no apparent
correlation between the rates and the security services provided. As HRDC has noted in previous
filings with the Commission, state prison systems that have eliminated commissions provide ICS
services at some of the lowest rates in the nation, including New Mexico ($.043/min. for collect
and debit calls); New York ($.048/min. for all types of calls); Rhode Island ($.046/minute for
intrastate collect and prepaid calls); and South Carolina ($.05/min. for prepaid and debit calls,
plus $.066/min. for collect calls).
The ancillary fees charged by ICS providers are not even thinly disguised as a way to bolster
their bottom lines and gouge consumers who have no marketplace choice with respect to who
provides phone services to communicate with their incarcerated loved ones. No one outside of
the ICS market (i.e., no consumer who has a choice in the matter) pays such fees to receive basic
phone services, and the ancillary fees charged by ICS providers financially exploit some of the
poorest and most marginalized people in America: prisoners and their families.
Further, note that Talton Communications offers no commission payments to the Department
of Homeland Security to provide immigration detainees with phone services at ICE detention
facilities, and charges a flat $.10 per minute for debit and pre-paid calls (and $.15 per minute for
collect calls), both interstate and intrastate. See Exhibit B. Talton supplies secure phone services
for immigration detainees housed at ICE facilities, which in many respects are comparable to
county jails – including a high population turnover.
Based on the foregoing, we urge the FCC to cap intrastate ICS rates at $.05 to $.10 per minute,
and to eliminate all ancillary fees imposed on those who make or accept calls from prisons, jails
and other detention facilities. We believe that setting the intrastate cap at this low rate will have
the practical effect of eliminating commissions within the ICS market, while still allowing ICS
providers to profit from prison and jail phone contracts. As noted above, ICS providers for the
New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island and South Carolina DOCs are able to provide prison
phone services at rates less than $.10/minute for intrastate calls, and Talton Communications
provides intrastate phone services at ICE detention facilities for $.10/minute.
Thank you for your time and attention in this regard, and please contact me should you need any
additional information. We will update our data for county jails in Washington State as we obtain
new ICS phone rates, contracts and commission-related data.
Sincerely,

Paul Wright
Executive Director, HRDC
Attachments

            Washington State Intrastate ICS Rates

EXHIBIT A

                     (based on data collected from 2013 and early 2014)

County

ICS Provider

Collect

      Phone Rates
Pre‐Paid

Debit

Cost of 15‐Minute Call
   Collect  Pre‐Paid    Debit

Commission

County jails with 1,000+ beds
King

Pierce

Securus Technologies

Securus Technologies

See note 1
Snohomish

Global Tel*Link

 Interlata

$2.00 + .10/min

$.13/min

$.13/min

$3.50

$1.95

$1.95

 Intralata

$2.00 + .10/min

$.13/min

$.13/min

$3.50

$1.95

$1.95

 Local

$2.00 + .10/min

$.13/min

$.13/min

$3.50

$1.95

$1.95

 Interlata

$2.49 + .10/min

$2.49 + .10/min

$2.49 + .10/min

$3.99

$3.99

$3.99

 Intralata

$2.48 + .10/min

$2.49 + .10/min

$2.49 + .10/min

$3.99

$3.99

$3.99

 Local

$2.49 flat

$2.49 flat

$2.49 flat

$2.49

$2.49

$2.49

 Interlata

$4.54 + .59/min

$4.54 + .59/min

$4.54 + .59/min

$13.39

$13.39

$13.39

 Intralata

$1.81 + .16/min

$1.81 + .16/min

$1.81 + .16/min

$4.21

$4.21

$4.21

 Local

$1.89 flat

$1.89 flat

$1.89 flat

$1.89

$1.89

$1.89

58%

68%

65%

County jails with 700‐1,000 beds
Benton

Clark

Spokane

Telmate, LLC

Telmate, LLC

DSI/ITI Global Tel*Link

 Interlata

$4.75 flat

$4.75 flat

$4.75

$4.75

 Intralata

$4.75 flat

$4.75 flat

$4.75

$4.75

 Local

$4.75 flat

$4.75 flat

$4.75

$4.75

 Interlata

$3.95 + .59/min

$7.50 flat

$12.80

$7.50

 Intralata

$2.80 + .16/min

$3.50 flat

$5.20

$3.50

 Local

$2.29 flat

$2.00 flat

$2.29

$2.00

 Interlata

$3.10 + .10/min

$1.10 + .10/min

$2.10 + .10/min

$4.60

$2.60

$3.60

 Intralata

$3.10 + .10/min

$1.10 + .10/min

$2.10 + .10/min

$4.60

$2.60

$3.60

 Local

$3.10 + .10/min

$1.10 + .10/min

$2.10 + .10/min

$4.60

$2.60

$3.60

 Interlata

$3.95 + .49/min

$5.00 flat

$11.30

$5.00

59%

60%

45%

County jails with 400‐699 beds
Kitsap

Thurston

Whatcom
See note 3

Telmate, LLC

Telmate, LLC

Legacy Communications

 Intralata

$2.80 + .16/min

$3.50 flat

$5.20

$3.50

 Local

$3.00 flat

$2.00 flat

$3.00

$2.00

 Interlata

$3.95 + .59/min

$3.95 + .59/min

$12.80

$12.80

 Intralata

$2.80 + .16/min

$2.80 + .16/min

$5.20

$5.20

 Local

$2.29 flat

$2.29 flat

$2.29

$2.29

 Interlata

$3.15 + .18/min

$3.15 + .18/min

$5.85

$5.85

 Intralata

$1.74 + .18/min

$1.74 + .18/min

$4.44

$4.44

 Local

$1.74 + .10/min

$1.74 + .10/min

$3.24

$3.24

See note 4

65%

70% + $20,000 bonus

County jails with 100‐399 beds
Chelan

Clallam

Telmate, LLC

Securus Technologies

See note 2
Cowlitz

Securus Technologies

See notes 2, 3
Franklin

Island

Consolidated Telecom

Securus Technologies

See note 2
Grant

Global Tel*Link

See note 3
Grays Harbor

Lattice Incorporated

 Interlata

$4.75 flat

$4.75 flat

$4.75

$4.75

 Intralata

$4.75 flat

$4.75 flat

$4.75

$4.75

 Local

$4.75 flat

$4.75 flat

$4.75

$4.75

59%

 Interlata

$1.89 + .30/min

$1.89 + .30/min

$1.89 + .30/min

$6.39

$6.39

$6.39

 Intralata

$1.89 + .30/min

$1.89 + .30/min

$1.89 + .30/min

$6.39

$6.39

$6.39

 Local

$1.89 + .30/min

$1.89 + .30/min

$1.89 + .30/min

$6.39

$6.39

$6.39

 Interlata

$4.09 + .59/min

$4.09 + .59/min

$4.09 + .59/min

$12.94

$12.94

$12.94

 Intralata

$3.14 + .10/min

$3.14 + .10/min

$3.14 + .10/min

$3.14

$3.14

$3.14

 Local

$.14  + 2.25

$.14 + 2.25

$.14 + 2.25

$2.39

$2.39

$2.39

 Interlata

$3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

 Intralata

$3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

 Local

$2.00 flat

$2.00

 Interlata

$3.95 + .59/min

$3.95 + .59/min

42%

60%

50%

$3.95 + .59/min

$12.80

$12.80

$12.80

$10.30

$10.30

$10.30

$2.25

$2.25

$2.25

 Intralata

$2.80 + .50/min

$2.80  + .50/min

$2.80 + .50/min

 Local

$2.25 flat

$2.25 flat

$2.25 flat

 Interlata

$3.95 + .89/min

$3.95 + .89/min

$17.30

$17.30

 Intralata

$2.80 + .10/min

$2.80 + .10/min

$4.30

$4.30

 Local

$2.29 flat

$2.29 flat

$2.29

$2.29

25%

17% + $18,000
annual incentive

 Interlata
 Intralata

64%

                                   Current rates not yet produced

 Local
Kittitas

Securus Technologies

See note 2
Lewis

Global Tel*Link

See note 7
Lincoln

Securus Technologies

See note 5
Mason

Securus Technologies

 Interlata

$4.09 + .59/min

$4.09 + .59/min

$12.94

$12.94

 Intralata

$2.94 + .50/min

$2.94 + .50/min

$10.44

$10.44

 Local

$.14 + 2.25

$.14 + 2.25

$2.39

$2.39

 Interlata

$3.00 + .59/min

$3.00 + .59/min

$3.00 + .59/min

$11.85

$11.85

$11.85

 Intralata

$2.20 + .14/min

$2.20 + .14/min

$2.20 + .14/min

$4.30

$4.30

$4.30

 Local

$2.75 flat

$2.75 flat

$2.75 flat

$2.75

$2.75

$2.75

 Interlata

$4.09 + .59/min

$4.09 + .59/min

$12.94

$12.94

 Intralata

$2.94 + .50/min

$2.94 + .50/min

$10.44

$10.44

 Local

$0.14 + 2.25

$0.14 + 2.25

$2.39

$2.39

 Interlata

$1.89 + .30/min

$6.39

 Intralata

$1.89 + .30/min

$6.39

 Local

$1.89 + .30/min

$6.39

45%

41%

28%

58% + $10,000 bonus

Okanogan

Skagit

Pay Tel Communications

Telmate, LLC

 Interlata

$3.00 + .40/min

$9.00

 Intralata

$3.00 + .40/min

$9.00

 Local

$2.25 flat

$2.25

 Interlata

$3.59‐4 min + .35/min

$7.44

 Intralata

$2.47‐4 min + .07/min

$3.24

 Local

$2.49‐4 min + .06/min

$3.15

 Interlata

$2.39 + .30/min

$2.39 + .30/min

$2.39 + .30/min

$6.89

$6.89

$6.89

 Intralata

$2.39 + .30/min

$2.39 + .30/min

$2.39 + .30/min

$6.89

$6.89

$6.89

 Local

$2.39 + .30/min

$2.39 + .30/min

$2.39 + .30/min

$6.89

$6.89

$6.89

 Interlata

$1.50 + .10/min

$1.50 + .10/min

$1.50 + .10/min

$3.00

$3.00

$3.00

 Intralata

$1.50 + .10/min

$1.50 + .10/min

$1.50 + .10/min

$3.00

$3.00

$3.00

 Local

$1.00 + .10/min

$1.00 + .10/min

$1.00 + .10/min

$2.50

$2.50

$2.50

 Interlata

$3.95 + .59/min

$3.95 + .59/min

$12.80

$12.80

 Intralata

$3.95 + .50/min

$3.95 + .50/min

$11.45

$11.45

 Local

$1.30 + .15/min

$1.30 + .15/min

$3.55

$3.55

65% with $60,000 MAG

55%

County jails with 50‐100 beds
Asotin

Securus Technologies

See notes 2, 3
Yakima

Securus Technologies

See notes 2, 3

40%

See note 6

County jails with under 50 beds
Adams

Columbia

Ferry

Garfield

Jefferson

Klickitat

Legacy Communications

Consolidated Telecom

Securus Technologies

Consolidated Telecom

Consolidated Telecom

 Interlata

$3.00 + .30/min

$3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

$7.50

 Intralata

$3.00 + .30/min

$3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

$7.50

 Local

$2.00 flat

$2.00 flat

$2.00

$2.00

66%

50%

 Interlata

$4.09 + .59/min

$4.09 + .59/min

$4.09 + .59/min

$12.94

$12.94

$12.94

 Intralata

$2.94 + .50/min

$2.94 + .50/min

$2.94 + .50/min

$10.44

$10.44

$10.44

 Local

$.14 + 2.25

$.14 + 2.25

$.14 + 2.25

$2.39

$2.39

$2.39

 Interlata

$3.00 + .30/min

$3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

$7.50

 Intralata

$3.00 + .30/min

$3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

$7.50

 Local

$2.00 flat

$2.00 flat

$2.00

$2.00

 Interlata

$3.00 + .30/min

$3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

$7.50

 Intralata

$3.00 + .30/min

$3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

$7.50

 Local

$2.00 flat

$2.00 flat

$2.00

$2.00

See note 6

50%

67.5%

Custom Teleconnect

 Interlata

$.50/min

$7.50

(prepaid phone cards)

 Intralata

$.50/min

$7.50

 Local

$.50/min

$7.50

See note 6

Pacific

Pend Oreille

Consolidated Telecom

AGM/PCS/
Global Tel*Link

 Interlata

$3.00 + .30/min

 $3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

$7.50

 Intralata

$3.00 + .30/min

 $3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

$7.50

 Local

$2.00 flat

$2.00 flat

$2.00

$2.00

60%

 Interlata
 Intralata

25%

                                   Current rates not yet produced

 Local
Skamania

Stevens

Wahkiakum

Consolidated Telecom

VAC/Global Tel*Link

Crown Correctional 
Telephone, Inc.

 Interlata

$3.00 + .30/min

$3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

$7.50

 Intralata

$3.00 + .30/min

$3.00 + .30/min

$7.50

$7.50

 Local

$2.00 flat

$2.00 flat

$2.00

$2.00

 Interlata

$4.89 + .89/min

$4.89 + .89/min

$18.24

$18.24

 Intralata

$2.80 + .10/min

$2.80 + .10/min

$4.30

$4.30

 Local

$2.29 flat

$2.29 flat

$2.29

$2.29

60.5%‐65.5%

See note 6

 Interlata
 Intralata

10%

                                   Current rates not yet produced

 Local
Walla Walla

Securus Technologies

 Interlata

$2.64 + .25/min

$2.64 + .25/min

$2.64 + .25/min

$6.39

$6.39

$6.39

 Intralata

$2.64 + .25/min

$2.64 + .25/min

$2.64 + .25/min

$6.39

$6.39

$6.39

 Local

$2.64 + .25/min

$2.64 + .25/min

$2.64 + .25/min

$6.39

$6.39

$6.39

 Interlata

$3.95 + .59/min

$12.80

Global Tel*Link
(hardware)

 Intralata

$2.80  + .10/min

$4.30

 Local

$2.29 flat

$2.29

Global Tel*Link

 Interlata

$3.04 flat

$2.80 flat

$2.80 flat

$3.04

$2.80

$2.80

 Intralata

$3.04 flat

$2.80 flat

$2.80 flat

$3.04

$2.80

$2.80

 Local

$3.04 flat

$2.80 flat

$2.80 flat

$3.04

$2.80

$2.80

See note 5

Whitman

Securus Technologies 
(software)

36%

30%

State prisons
Washington DOC
See note 8

51%
$5.1 million annual guarantee

1  There is a discrepancy between the rates produced by Pierce County and the Securus Rate Calculator (https://securustech.net/call‐rate‐calculator); the lower of the two rates was used in this chart.
2  Rate data calculated using the Securus Rate Calculator (https://securustech.net/call‐rate‐calculator).
3  For rate schedules offering reduced rates for evening/night calls vs. daytime calls, the lower rate was used in this calculation.
4  Kitsap County's commission includes 50% for collect calls, 46% for prepaid calls and 25% of payphone revenue.
5  There is a discrepancy between the rates produced by Lincoln County and the Securus Rate Calculator (https://securustech.net/call‐rate‐calculator); the lower of the two rates was used in this chart.
6  Current commission data has not yet been produced.
7  Lewis County's ICS contract switched to Telmate in January 2014; the data is for the county's prior contract with GTL.
8  Flat rates are for 20‐minute calls.

EXHIBIT B

Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Telephone Calling Rates*
(Tarifas de Llamas Telefónicas)
Domestic / Llamadas Domesticas:
Per Minute Rate (Tarifa por Minuto)
Local Debit / Locales por Debito:
Long Distance Debit / Larga Distancia por Debito:

$0.10
$0.10

Long Distance Pre-paid Collect / Llamadas de larga distancia
de prepago por cobrar:
Local Pre-paid Collect / Locales de prepago por cobrar:
Long Distance Collect / Larga distancia por cobrar:
Local Collect / Locales por cobrar:

$0.10
$0.10
$0.15
$0.15

International Debit / Internacional por Debito:
International Mobile / Llamadas Internacionales a móviles:

$0.15
$0.35

Per Minute Rate (Tarifa por minuto)

*Plus Applicable Federal, State, and Local Taxes, approximately 23%
(*Mas impuestos aplicables federales, estatales, y locales de aproximadamente 23%)

Want Family and Friends to Leave You a Voicemail?
(Desea que su Familia y Amigos le dejen un mensaje?)

Have Your Family Dial (Que su familia marque):
(888) 516-0115

$1.20 each / cada mensaje
Families with Collect Billing Problems Should Call:
(Familias con problemas de cuentas por cobrar deben llamar):

(866) 348-6231
Your Family and Friends Can Deposit Funds on Your Phone Account
from the Internet!
Visit:
(Su familia y amigos pueden depositar fondos en su cuenta de teléfono por la
Internet!)
Visitando la página:

www.Talton.com
REVISED 12/21/12