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Court Stops FCC's Latest Attempt To Lower Prison Phone Rates (arstechnica.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Prison phone companies have convinced a court to halt new rate caps on inmate calling for the second time this month. The first stay was issued March 7 and prevented the FCC from implementing new rate caps of 11 cents to 22 cents per minute on both interstate and intrastate calls from prisons. But the stay -- which remains in place while the prison phone companies' lawsuit against the FCC is still pending -- did not disturb an earlier "interim" cap of 21 cents to 25 cents per minute that applied only to interstate calls, those that cross state lines. The order also didn't specifically object to the FCC changing its definition of "inmate calling service" to include both interstate and intrastate calls. Seizing on this ambiguity, the FCC decided that it could impose the interim caps on both interstate and intrastate calls. But prison phone companies Securus Technologies, Global Tel Link (GTL), and Telmate all asked the federal appeals court to stop the caps from being applied to intrastate calls. A court order issued Wednesday sided with the prison phone companies, saying that "petitioners have satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending court review." As a result, the interim rate caps will still apply only to interstate calls.
That's a pretty strange slander-lation you got there. I went with a translation instead and found:
The context was that they were under attack and being threatened with death.
The rest are still "for profit" because inmate labor saves the states millions upon millions of dollars in wages every year. Litter cleanup, pothole crews, hospital laundry, furniture construction, all of this is done by prisoners. In some cases it's contracted out to private industry and the state makes good money, there are prison laundries that process hotel linens for example. The inmates are paid pennies per hour, if that, and the state reaps the benefits.
Instead of a minimum wage, they have a maximum wage (around $4/hr average). But the average wage is 93 cents/hr and the lowest is 16 cents.
So a cheap phone call at a discount rate of only $10/minute, they can talk to family for a few minutes a week. And that is only if they're not being extorted by other inmates for the money.
Replying anonymously because I'm modding in this thread.
For my friend behind bars, she relies on friends to add money to her account through JPay, a convenient service that takes another 5-10% or more off the top whenever you deposit into the inmate's account.
Until my friend was imprisoned, I had NO IDEA how pervasive rent-seeking and profiteering was in the prison system. It really is a nightmare.
Because they are literally holding their customers prisoner and give them no choice in using the service.
> Replying anonymously because I'm modding in this thread.
There's a reason why one doesn't post in threads they moderate. They list this reason - as I recall. (I stopped moderating a long time ago. I'd rather speak than decide what others should or should not read.) At any rate, they designed the system that way for a reason - I'd like to think it's a valid reason. Disrupting the game, by changing the rules, just seems low. I lack a better word. Low, lowly, pathetic? They all work.
If you don't like the rules, don't play the game. Don't take it personal, you're not the only "sneaky" person.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
Magic convenient solution that Liberals think is impossible: STOP COMMITTING CRIMES
Magic convenient solution that Conservatives think is impossible: STOP DEFINING RELIGIOUS TRANSGRESSIONS AS CRIMES
Not everyone subscribes to your particular religion, and even if they did, making a crime out of drug use is actually making things worse by anyones definition.
I wish I had a good sig, but all the good ones are copyrighted
They get some money from their families. There are limits on what they can give inmates. They can also earn money from working in programs. American Flags are made in women's low security correctional facilities where they are paid $2 an hour.
Prison is the only form of slavery explicitly allowed by the US constitution. But it's not the only form of slavery. The other is a form of voluntary indentured servitude. It's called the military.
At least in the state I live, no prisoner is required to work. They choose to. Apparently even prisoners would rather work to keep themselves busy and to earn some luxuries. Seems like a win-win. Besides, it's career training for one of the many jobs for making license plates after they get out. Oh, wait...
Why is there an "insightful" mod and why isn't it "-1"? If I wanted insight, I wouldn't be reading
Grow the fuck up.
That's Quran 8:59-60. (and a very 'opportunisitic' transalation too,
Quran 8:61 (ie... the VERY next sentence)
"And if they incline to peace, then you (also) incline to it, and put (your) trust in Allah".
Talk about twisting a passage to suit your bullshit.
It essentially says "if you are attacked muster all your forces to defend yourselves, but make peace with those that come in peace".
Seriously... that's about as American as apple pie.
According to prosecutors, yes apparently Obama is lax on drugs. He's also interfered a lot less in state-level legalizations of certain drugs than previous administrations.
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