NCIC Urges FCC Action on Video Rates for Incarcerated People's Communications Services

NCIC Communications backed Worth Rises' call for the FCC to set video calling rates on a per minute basis for incarcerated people's communications services (IPCS). The IPCS provider also asked the commission in a letter Tuesday in docket 23-62 to "immediately address" single-pay transaction fees for phone calls. "The FCC will have to expand its authority in order to capture all video visitation providers and subject them to rules that are adopted in this proceeding," NCIC said, noting IPCS companies "provide only about half of the video visitation systems in the corrections industry." The company said it was "aware of numerous IPCS providers not registered with the FCC who claim to be outside of the scope of FCC authority by offering video visitation" and phone calls over non-interconnected VoIP platforms.