Prison phone companies must now report their rates and fees to the government

The US government has approved new rules requiring companies that provide phone services to incarcerated people to report their rates and fees. This means the Federal Communications Commission can now collect data on what these companies charge, making it easier to enforce price caps.

For years, companies providing phone services in prisons have operated with little transparency, often charging very high rates. This change means the government can finally see exactly what these companies are charging. It makes it much harder for them to hide excessive fees and makes it easier for regulators to enforce price limits.