Digital Inclusion

Securus, Pay Tel Looking to Drop Legal Challenge to Prison Phone Rates

The FCC issued a new order last year raising its price caps.

Jake Neenan

Feb 25, 2026 — 2 min read

Photo of visitation phone lines at the Allan B. Polunsky Unit prison in Livingston, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 by Annie Mulligan/AP

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2026 – Satisfied with new higher rates, prison telecom providers are looking to drop their challenge to a now-rescinded Federal Communications Commission rule on how much incarcerated people can be charged for phone service.

Securus and Pay Tel had sued over a 2024 FCC order implementing the Martha Wright-Reed Act, a 2023 law directing the FCC to regulate prison phone rates. They said the rates the FCC set in that order were too low for some companies and facilities to recover their costs.

Under new leadership in 2025, the agency adopted another order with caps nearly twice as high in some cases. It’s set to take effect in April.

Post tagged in

Digital Inclusion Securus Pay Tel Communications Brendan Carr Anna Gomez FCC

Fox to Buy Streaming Pioneer Roku in a $22 Billion Deal

Fox Corp. is acquiring streaming platform Roku in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $22 billion, gaining access to the Roku Channel and more than 100 million global streaming households.

Rural Carriers, Consumer Groups Want Verizon-Array Spectrum Deal Reviewed

Separately, the Rural Wireless Association also raised concerns about the proposed T-Mobile-Grain deal.

AI and Child Safety, Cyber Agency Short-Staffed, Google Drops CBRS, NTIA on BEAD Poles

Plus, SpaceX IPO Makes Musk First Trillionaire

Carr Tells House Democrats Disney Provided ‘Deficient, Nonresponsive, and Disingenuous’ Responses to Lawful FCC Data Requests

In a May 29 letter recently posted, Carr indicates enforcement action against Disney is coming, insists 'fair and even-handed treatment for all parties' defines his approach to running the agency