# 2026-22601: FCC Tackles Prison Calls, Video Chats, and Relay-Service Rules

2026-22601, Video Relay Service Improvements; Incarcerated People's Communication Services; Implementation of the Martha Wright-Reed Act; Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services; Access to Video Conferencing, is a Federal Register rule from Federal Communications Commission published 2026-11-05, effective 2026-11-05; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22601
- As of: 2026-11-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-22601
- Title: Video Relay Service Improvements; Incarcerated People's Communication Services; Implementation of the Martha Wright-Reed Act; Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services; Access to Video Conferencing
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Federal Communications Commission
- Citation: 91 FR 69726
- Published: 2026-11-05
- Effective: 2026-11-05
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-11-06

## In one line

FCC Tackles Prison Calls, Video Chats, and Relay-Service Rules

## Summary

The FCC just got the green light to roll out new rules that improve video relay services and communication options for people in prison. These changes make calling and video chatting easier and fairer, with updated info rules kicking in November 5, 2026. This affects inmates, their families, and service providers, aiming for better access without extra costs.

## Abstract

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget has approved new information collection requirements under OMB Control Number 3060-1089, as adopted in the Commission's Report and Orders, FCC 23-116, FCC 24-75 and FCC 24-95.

## Effects PRIA read

- New reporting/collection approved (OMB 3060-1089): cost, low. The Office of Management and Budget approved the information collection requirements under OMB Control Number 3060-1089 on August 17, 2026, and certain amended rules become effective November 5, 2026. The approved collection covers 165,408 respondents and 1,764,771 responses, with a total annual bu…
- Improved 911 location for TRS users: benefit, high. The rules require fixed internet-based TRS devices to provide automated dispatchable location to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). For non-fixed devices, providers must fall back to Registered Location or provide alternative location information, and as a last resort may route calls to Emerge…
- Enterprise registration expanded for incarcerated users: benefit, medium. The carceral facility enterprise registration rules were amended to allow IP CTS (internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service) and IP Relay enterprise registration and to align those requirements with VRS enterprise registration, combining them into a single paragraph of the rules to help ensure…
- Two-week registration grace period preserved: benefit, low. VRS and IP CTS providers are allowed to provide compensable service to a new user for up to two weeks after submitting the user's information to the TRS User Registration Database (TRS-URD), provided the user's identity is verified within that two-week period.
- Provider outage, notice, and continuity requirements: benefit, medium. The rules require internet-based TRS providers to obtain prior authorization for planned interruptions, report unforeseen interruptions, maintain consumer notifications of temporary service outages (including updates on websites), and give customers at least 30 days' notice if the provider will no…

## Related documents

- [2026-22573](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22573): Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 2026-11-05
- [2026-22574](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22574): Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget, 2026-11-05
- [2026-22600](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22600): Modernizing Spectrum Sharing for Satellite Broadband, 2026-11-05
- [2026-22408](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22408): Review of the Commission's Broadcast and Cable Equal Employment Opportunity Rules and Policies; Delete, Delete, Delete, 2026-11-03
- [2026-22334](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22334): Reducing Barriers to Network Improvements and Service Changes, Accelerating Network Modernization; Correction, 2026-11-02
- [2026-22337](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22337): Unleashing the Power of Unlicensed Ultra-Wideband Devices; Petition of Robert Bosch LLC for Amendment of the Part 15 Subpart F Ultra-Wideba…, 2026-11-02

## Sources
- [2026-22601 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/05/2026-22601/video-relay-service-improvements-incarcerated-peoples-communication-services-implementation-of-the)
- [2026-22601 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-11-05/pdf/2026-22601.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-22600, Modernizing Spectrum Sharing for Satellite Broadband](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22600)
- [Next: 2026-22642, Modification of Class D and Class E Airspace Areas; Roberts Field/Redmond Munic…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22642)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22601 (as of 2026-11-06).