Several prisoners’ rights groups opposed a petition by...

Several prisoners’ rights groups opposed a petition by Securus to add a 2 cent-per-minute fee to its interstate calls to cover the cost of providing voice biometric technology, in a filing Friday (http://bit.ly/1cof6Jm). “Securus utterly failed to demonstrate that the rate caps imposed in the Inmate Calling Services Report and Order are below its cost of providing service, even if the Voice Biometrics fee is included,” said the groups, including the D.C. Prisoners’ Project, Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants, the Prison Policy Initiative and others. Securus said Pay-Tel had gotten similar relief (CD Feb 21 p15), but the prisoners’ groups said Securus hadn’t submitted nearly enough proof of its need. “While Paytel was required to submit audited financial statements and detailed cost studies in connection with its request for waiver, Securus merely states -- ‘Me too,'” they said. Unless Securus is willing to submit financial documents detailing its financial situation and verified cost studies, the FCC must deny the petition, the groups said.