State Utility Officials Urged to Lower Prison Phone Rates

A national group that represents state utility regulators is backing an effort by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to rein in rates for prisoners’ intrastate phone calls.

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners on Thursday asked its members to review rates for the calls, the group’s president, Brandon Presley, said in a statement.

“We are asking all of our members to take a comprehensive review in their jurisdictions around these rates and take action where warranted,” Presley said.

The announcement comes after Pai, in a Monday letter to NARUC, said intrastate rates “substantially” exceed interstate rates in 45 ...