FCC Seeks Data on Jail Phone Call Pricing Again
Published Date: 6/17/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FCC wants to collect new info in 2026 about phone and video calls for people in jail to help set fair prices. This affects companies that provide these services and aims to make reporting easier for them. Comments on the plan are open until mid-July, so everyone can share their thoughts before any changes happen.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Mandatory 2026 IPCS Data Collection
The FCC proposes a mandatory 2026 data collection that would require incarcerated people's communications services (IPCS) providers to submit company-level and facility-level data so the Commission can set permanent audio and video IPCS rate caps. Providers would have to file their responses within 90 days of an order approving the collection.
Measure-Based Safety and Security Reporting
The FCC proposes a measure-based approach for safety and security reporting that would require providers to identify each discrete safety/security measure they offer, attribute it to one or more of seven Commission categories, and allocate investments and expenses for each measure among audio IPCS, video IPCS, and other services. The goal is more granular data while reducing some categorical allocation burdens.
Streamlined Reporting to Reduce Burden
The FCC proposes to streamline the 2026 collection by cutting or simplifying items such as separate ancillary service cost reporting, most site-commission reporting, facility cost reporting, and some operational breakdowns, and by limiting the reporting period to calendar year 2025. The stated goal is to reduce reporting burdens, including for small providers with fewer than 25 employees.
Payment-Processing Cost Reporting Required
The FCC proposes that IPCS providers report company-wide data on IPCS-related payment processing services, defined to include third-party processing fees (but excluding chargeback amounts). Providers would be required to identify the third-party processors used and the total amount paid to each.
Report Provider Payments to Facilities
The FCC seeks comment on requiring IPCS providers to report total monetary and in-kind payments they made to correctional facilities for 'used and useful' IPCS costs during the reporting period, to help consider structuring permanent rate additives. The FCC notes an interim facility cost rate additive of up to $0.02 per minute that currently applies industry-wide.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-15600, Wireless Emergency Alerts; The Emergency Alert System; Modernization of the Nation's Alerting Systems
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC" or "Commission") adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on proposed rules intended to make the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) more resilient, flexible, and useful.
2026-15479, Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it can further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
2026-15480, Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.
2026-15478, Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it can further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
2026-15598, Upper C-Band (3.98-4.2 GHz); Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Report and Order, Order of Proposed Modification, and Order on Reconsideration (Order), that expands the ecosystem for next-generation wireless services in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band (C-band) by making 160 megahertz of the 3.98-4.2 GHz band (Upper C- band) available for terrestrial wireless flexible use. This action is pursuant to Congress' direction in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to complete a system of competitive bidding by July 4, 2027, for at least 100 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.98-4.2 GHz band. The Order creates a single 3.7 GHz Service that spans 3.7-4.14 GHz and adopts competitive bidding procedures for an auction. The Order largely applies the current Lower C-band licensing and operating rules to the Upper C-band, but it imposes more forward-leaning performance requirements. The Commission also generally adopts the Lower C-band technical rules for the Upper C-band, with certain modifications designed to reinforce a successful coexistence environment with adjacent band radio altimeters. The Order requires new licensees in the Upper C-band, as a condition of their licenses, to reimburse defined incumbent Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) licensees for reasonable and necessary costs associated with migrating FSS operations out of the reconfigured portion of the Upper C-band, consistent with the Commission's Emerging Technologies precedent. The Order also provides incentives to eligible space station operators that meet their clearing obligations by specified transition deadlines. Finally, new Upper C-band licensees must provide rebates for defined classes of eligible aircraft owners and operators to facilitate compliance with the FAA's radio altimeter retrofit requirements, which are designed to promote successful coexistence between Upper C-band licensees and radio altimeters in the 4.2-4.4 GHz band.
2026-15601, Modernization of the Nation's Alerting Systems; Protecting the Nation's Communications Systems From Cybersecurity Threats
In the Report and Order, the Federal Communications Commission (the FCC or the Commission) seeks to preserve the public's trust in the Emergency Alert System (EAS) by requiring targeted cybersecurity improvements that will help protect against hijacking by cybercriminals and our nation's adversaries.
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