New rates for inmates shift focus to laptops for Oklahoma families
Oklahoma families with loved ones confined switched to state-issued tablets, made available to prisoners statewide in 2021 after the banning of physical mail from entering state prisons in September 2024 curtailing the flow of contraband drugs into facilities.
The Federal Communications Commission in July of 2024 changed the rules to end exorbitant phone and video call rates that have burdened incarcerated people and their families for a very long time.
According to FCC officials, under the new rules, the cost of a 15-minute phone call will drop to $0.90 from as much as $11.35 in large jails and, in small jails, to $1.35 from $12.10 beginning January 1, 2025.
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Communications services, such as video conferencing and video visitation breakdown is as follows: *Compliance with the new rate caps will be phased in based on the size of the correctional institution and other factors.
Audio Rate Caps (Permanent) (Per minute)
Video Rate Caps (Interim) (Per minute)
Tier (ADP)
Current Caps
New Caps
Current Caps
New Caps
Prisons (any ADP)
$0.14*
$0.06
N/A
$0.16
Large Jails (1,000+)
$0.16*
$0.06
N/A
$0.11
Med. Jails (350-999)
$0.21
$0.07
N/A
$0.12
Small Jails (100-349)
$0.21
$0.09
N/A
$0.14
Very Small Jails (0-99)
$0.21
$0.12
N/A
$0.25
* Current cap figures that include a $0.02 additive for facility costs, which equates to the allowance made for facility-incurred IPCS costs reflected in contractually-prescribed site commissions, the closest available comparison. ADP means average daily population.
Oklahoma Watch first reported, the new FCC regulation capping prison and jail phone call rates. Additionally highlighting, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) and Securus Technologies agreed to lower the state's phone call rate from 14 cents per minute to 6 cents per minute. Securus under the amended contract who took over Oklahoma's prison phone system in 2020 charging 20 cents per minute will no longer receive $3.5 million per year contract agreement in Oklahoma.
Securus will now beginning paying ODOC $580,000 over 12 months for tablet e-messaging and media rights, according to the latest contract agreement, reported by Oklahoma Watch.
Oklahomans are now shifting their focus as the FCC who has no regulating authority over tablet e-messaging as a pending lawsuit filed by Securus and Pay Tel alleging that the FCC exceeded its authority under the Martha Wright-Reed Fair and Just Communications Act is ongoing.
Implementation of rate cuts continue as federal courts decline any pause due to pending cases.
To read the Oklahoma Watch full article click here.
*The Department of Corrections and Prison Policy Initiative have not responded at the time of this publishing.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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