FCC Official Says Securus Letter on Fees 'Mischaracterized' Inmate Calling Order
Securus Technologies "mischaracterized" the FCC inmate calling order in a letter apparently sent to correctional authorities that are customers of its ICS services, Wireline Bureau Chief Matt DelNero said. “Contrary to the suggestion of the Securus Letter, the Commission has…
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not sanctioned any proposal for correctional facilities to continue collecting site commissions ‘over and above the rate cap’ by ‘get[ting] a Mandatory Fee authorized and assessed ... that can be passed on to consumers,’” DelNero wrote to Securus President Robert Pickens in a letter Thursday. Pickens wrote a letter Nov. 13 addressed to correctional customers, which was placed into docket 12-375 by the Martha Wright Petitioner group in a recent filing. Also contrary to the Securus letter, the commission's decision to allow providers to pass universal service fees and similar government taxes and fees on to users "did not invite the creation of an alternative means for correctional facilities to 'generate some level of funding through inmate calling services,'" DelNero said. “I note that, as the Commission stated in the 2015 ICS Order, ‘We will be vigilant in monitoring the [ICS] industry. ... If we observe or are made aware of evidence of price gouging or other harmful behavior through, but not limited to, increased rates, ancillary service charges, and/or site commissions, we will not hesitate to take appropriate remedial action up to and including enforcement action pursuant to our legal authority under sections 201 and 276 or referral to another appropriate agency.’” DelNero said he hoped his letter cleared up any misunderstandings that led to the Securus letter. A company representative didn't comment Friday.