Providers Lobby FCC on Draft ICS Concerns

Inmate calling services providers asked FCC staff to revise part of a draft order to cut ICS rates ahead of commissioners' meeting Thursday, per filings posted Friday in docket 12-375 (see 2105120031). Securus asked to let providers "establish pilot programs for interstate calls," citing its six ongoing pilots in county jails and one state prison. It asked for different alternative rate structures. NCIC asked to clarify "the transaction fee cap will continue to be $3" for single-service calls or "completely prohibit transaction fees for single calls." Changes to the rate caps should become effective on the same day, Global Tel*Link asked in conversations with commissioners' staff. GTL sought to revise the draft suggesting the company "failed to keep its books and records in a certain manner."