The Alabama Public Service Commission tentatively approved a...

The Alabama Public Service Commission tentatively approved a staff proposal Tuesday that would reduce inmate phone rates and fees, said a PSC news release (http://bit.ly/1oq5nDE). The PSC extended a comment period through June 12 before deciding whether to issue a final order to implement the changes, it said. According to a PSC fact sheet, the changes would eliminate a $2.25 per call surcharge on each local or intrastate toll call made by inmates. Local calls are now charged an additional 50 cents per local call and 30 cents a minute for intrastate toll calls, on top of the surcharge. The changes would phase down the rates for both types of calls to 25 cents a minute the first year, 23 cents a minute for debit and prepaid calls the second year, and 21 cents a minute for debit and prepaid calls the third year. Collect calls would remain at 25 cents a minute the second and third years. The tentative changes would cap or eliminate a variety of fees charged by phone companies service jails and prisons. The changes are among a number of steps in states to reduce intrastate inmate call costs after FCC action on interstate inmate calls last year (CD May 5 p8).