By Mike Dennison
The Standard State Bureau
HELENA — A federal ruling capping what it called “exorbitant” long-distance telephone rates charged to prison inmates across the nation won’t affect state prisoners in Montana, which already charges rates at or below the new cap.
However, it was unclear Monday whether Friday’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision might force changes in calling rates charged to prisoners held in some city or county jails across Montana.
The ruling applies to interstate long-distance calls made by prisoners held in local jails, but Montana counties arrange their own contracts for jail telephone calls, and those contracts vary across the state, said Harold Blattie, executive director of the Montana Association of Counties.
Full story: Mont. inmate phone charges already in line with new caps set by FCC ruling