The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau just announced a unilateral delay in all rules implementing the Martha Wright Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act. This statement can be attributed to Cheryl A. Leanza, policy advisor of the United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry:
Not only did Congress unanimously pass the Martha Wright Reed Act, but the Federal Communications Commission unanimously adopted the decision last summer. And the Federal Communications Commission’s newly appointed General Counsel vigorously and persuasively defended the decision in April.
The decision to delay these rules is factually and legally wrong. No legal request for this decision was made, no public comment was sought.
The decision points to claims of strain in the industry, when many prisons and jails have been complying since the rules became effective in January. The FCC points to filings from Securus, which is currently the beneficiary of a waiver of the rules it requested and received last December.
Incarcerated people deserve the protections adopted by the FCC as directed by Congress. This decision is another lawless decision by the Trump Administration and this Federal Communications Commission.
The rules that are now delayed are summarized in the UCC Media Justice Ministry’s Guide to the FCC’s New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates.