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Senate Bill 1541
117th Congress(2021-2022)
Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022
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Became Law
Became Public Law 117-338 on Jan 5, 2023
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S. 1541 (Introduced-in-Senate)


117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1541


To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to ensure just and reasonable charges for telephone and advanced communications services in correctional and detention facilities.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 10, 2021

Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mr. Portman, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Booker, Mr. King, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Warren, Mr. Casey, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Wyden, and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to ensure just and reasonable charges for telephone and advanced communications services in correctional and detention facilities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2021”.

SEC. 2. Findings.

Congress finds the following:

(1) Prison, jails, and detention centers in the United States have unique telecommunications needs due to safety and security concerns.

(2) Unjust and unreasonable charges negatively impact the safety and security of communities in the United States by exacerbating recidivism by damaging relationships between incarcerated people and their support systems.

(3) It is the policy of the United States to ensure that all people in the United States, including anyone who pays for communications with incarcerated people via telephone and advanced communications, are afforded just and reasonable charges for all communications services.

(4) The current correctional facilities communications market suffers from market failure. Among other issues, consumers cannot choose among competing providers, which produces locational monopolies and monopoly profits at the expense of rate-payers.

(5) Charges for communicating with individuals detained in prisons, jails, and detention centers have been shown to be unjust and unreasonable as a result of industry practices and lack of competition.

(6) Unjust and unreasonable charges extend to telephone and advanced communications services and to both intrastate and interstate communications.

(7) Mrs. Martha Wright-Reed of Washington, DC, led a campaign for just calling rates for incarcerated people for over a decade. Mrs. Wright-Reed was the lead plaintiff in Wright v. Corrections Corporation of America, CA No. 00–293 (GK) (D.D.C. 2001), which ultimately led to the Wright Petition at the Federal Communications Commission, CC Docket No. 96–128 (Nov. 3, 2003). Mrs. Wright-Reed became involved, when, as a grandmother, she was forced to choose between purchasing medication and communicating with her incarcerated grandson. Mrs. Wright-Reed passed away on January 18, 2015 before fully realizing her dream of just communications rates for all people.

(8) After the Federal Communications Commission granted the petition Wright Petition described in paragraph (7), the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reversed the Federal Communications Commission by interpreting section 276 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 276) in the case of Global Tel*Link v. Federal Communications Commission, 866 F.3d 397 (D.C. Cir. 2017), in part by constricting the meaning of the word “fair” and limiting the means by which the Federal Communications Commission can calculate fair, just, and reasonable charges.

SEC. 3. Technical amendments.

(a) In general.—Section 276 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 276) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)(1)(A)—

(A) by striking “per call”;

(B) by inserting “, and all charges are just and reasonable,” after “fairly compensated”;

(C) by striking “each and every”; and

(D) by striking “call using” and inserting “communications using”; and

(2) in subsection (d), by inserting “and advanced communications services” after “inmate telephone service”.

(b) Definition of advanced communications services.—Section 3(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153(1)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(E) any audio or video communications service provided at a correctional institution, regardless of technology used.”.

(c) Application of the Act.—Section 2(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 152(b)) is amended by inserting “section 276,” after “sections 223 through 227, inclusive,”.

SEC. 4. Implementation.

(a) Rulemaking.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall promulgate any regulations necessary to implement this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

(b) Use of data.—In implementing this Act and the amendments made by this Act, including by promulgating regulations under subsection (a) and determining just and reasonable rates, the Federal Communications Commission may use industry average costs and collect and analyze such data as the Commission determines necessary.