GPS RESEARCH LIBRARY: Prison Communications & Financial Exploitation: The Extraction Economy Behind Bars ============================================================ Georgia Prisoners' Speak — gps.press Generated: 2026-03-07 03:49:11 EST Research Date: 2026-02-01 JSON: https://gps.press/research/prison-communications-financial-exploitation-the-extraction-economy-behind-bars/?format=json SUMMARY ---------------------------------------- Georgia's prison communications system is a $1.4 billion national extraction economy concentrated in the hands of two companies—Securus Technologies and ViaPath Technologies—that together control 80 percent of the U.S. market and serve 1.1 million incarcerated people across 3,450 facilities. This research documents how Georgia families are systematically overcharged for basic contact with loved ones while the state government collects millions in kickback revenue that masks the true cost of the system. Georgia ranks third nationally in commission kickback revenue, collecting $8.06 million in fiscal year 2018-2019 from Securus and JPay (a Securus subsidiary). Families pay $0.06 per minute for phone calls, $0.20 to $0.35 per email stamp through JPay, and $3.50 to $6.50 per money transfer. A family maintaining regular weekly contact through combined phone, email, and transfers spends an estimated $115 to $135 monthly—expenses that force one in three families into debt. The financial burden falls disproportionately on women, who carry 87 percent of these costs. Meanwhile, Georgia county jails operate with vastly higher rates and commission structures, with some facilities like Glynn County charging 69 percent commission rates. The communications monopoly is reinforced through the NASPO master agreement, which Georgia joined alongside eight other states, limiting competition to just five vendors—four of them connected to private equity firms. The Securus parent company Aventiv Technologies, owned by billionaire Tom Gores's Platinum Equity, collapsed toward bankruptcy in 2024-2025 while desperately pushing tablet adoption and unregulated content sales to offset revenue losses from federal rate regulation. The company accumulated over $1.3 billion in debt through leveraged buyouts, with bond values crashing to 47 cents on the dollar as the Federal Communications Commission prepared its 2024 rate-cutting order. That order—voted unanimously on July 18, 2024—would have reduced call costs dramatically and eliminated all site commissions. Instead, the Republican-majority FCC reversed course in June 2025, then adopted weakened "interim" rules in October 2025 that raise Georgia's phone rates from $0.06 to $0.11 per minute while adding a $0.02 per minute "facility cost recovery" additive—a backdoor restoration of commission revenue that Worth Rises estimates will cost families an additional $215 million annually compared to the 2024 rules. Six states plus New York City have already implemented free prison calls, with Massachusetts and New York reporting call volumes more than doubled and no budget catastrophe. Connecticut, California, Colorado, Minnesota, and Massachusetts eliminated charges entirely. Yet Georgia has taken no legislative action despite extracting millions in communications revenue. The nonprofit alternative—Ameelio, founded by Yale students and backed by Jack Dorsey and Eric Schmidt—operates in Iowa and Maine, charging corrections departments rather than families. Georgia's 159 counties operate under separate contracts with widely varying rates and commissions, creating a fragmented exploitation landscape. A systematic survey of county jail contracts has never been conducted. The total amount extracted from Georgia families across all communications services remains unknown, and how GDC allocates its $8 million-plus in annual commission revenue has never been publicly disclosed—questions that demand legislative and FOIA-based investigation. STATISTICS (68) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] Prison communications industry annual revenue The prison communications industry is a $1.4 billion annual extraction machine built on monopoly telephone, tablet, email, and money transfer services. Value: 1.4 billion dollars annually Tags: prison communications, industry revenue, extraction economy Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over - [reported] Securus and ViaPath market share Securus Technologies and ViaPath Technologies (formerly GTL) together control approximately 80% of the U.S. prison telecommunications market. Value: 80 percent of U.S. market Tags: market share, duopoly, Securus, ViaPath, prison telecom Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over - [reported] Number of correctional facilities served by duopoly Securus and ViaPath together serve roughly 3,450 correctional facilities and 1.1 million incarcerated individuals. Value: 3450 correctional facilities Tags: facilities, market coverage, Securus, ViaPath Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over - [reported] Incarcerated individuals served by duopoly Securus and ViaPath together serve approximately 1.1 million incarcerated individuals. Value: 1.1 million incarcerated individuals Tags: incarcerated population, market coverage Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over - [confirmed] Georgia commission kickback revenue 2019 Georgia received $8,062,200.60 in commission kickbacks from prison phone revenue in fiscal year 2018–2019, making it the third-highest state in the nation for commission revenue. Value: 8062200.60 dollars Date: 2019-06-30 Tags: Georgia, commission, kickback, revenue, GDC Sources: Georgia Prisoners May Lose Critical Lifelines as Telecom Rates Targeted - [confirmed] Georgia current phone rate per minute Georgia families currently pay $0.06 per minute for phone calls from GDC state prisons, compliant with earlier FCC caps. Value: 0.06 dollars per minute Date: 2025-09-01 Tags: Georgia, phone rates, GDC, Securus Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] Georgia email stamp cost bulk rate Georgia families pay $0.20 per email stamp when purchased in bulk (50-stamp packs at $10.00) through JPay. Value: 0.20 dollars per stamp (bulk) (vs. 0.35 standard rate per stamp) Tags: Georgia, email, JPay, e-messaging, rates Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] Georgia email stamp cost standard rate Georgia families pay $0.35 per email stamp at the standard (non-bulk) rate through JPay. Value: 0.35 dollars per stamp (standard) Tags: Georgia, email, JPay, e-messaging, rates Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] Georgia money transfer fee range Georgia families pay $3.50 to $6.50 per money transfer through JPay, depending on the transfer amount. Value: 3.50–6.50 dollars per transfer Tags: Georgia, money transfer, JPay, fees Sources: Contact an Offender - [reported] Securus serves 3,450 correctional facilities Securus Technologies serves approximately 3,450 correctional facilities across all 50 states. Value: 3450 correctional facilities Tags: Securus, facilities, market coverage Sources: Aventiv portfolio page, Platinum Equity - [confirmed] Castle Harlan buys Securus for $440 million (2011) In 2011, Castle Harlan Partners bought Securus Technologies for $440 million. Value: 440 million dollars Date: 2011-01-01 Tags: Securus, Castle Harlan, acquisition, private equity Sources: Platinum Equity-owned prison telecom company Aventiv defaults, faces uncertain future - [confirmed] ABRY Partners acquires Securus for $640 million (2013) In 2013, ABRY Partners acquired Securus Technologies for $640 million. Value: 640 million dollars (vs. 440 2011 purchase price by Castle Harlan) Date: 2013-01-01 Tags: Securus, ABRY Partners, acquisition, private equity Sources: Platinum Equity-owned prison telecom company Aventiv defaults, faces uncertain future - [confirmed] Platinum Equity acquires Securus for $1.5 billion (2017) In 2017, Platinum Equity acquired Securus Technologies for approximately $1.5 billion, taking on over $1.3 billion in debt to finance the leveraged buyout. Value: 1.5 billion dollars (vs. 640 2013 purchase price by ABRY Partners (millions)) Date: 2017-01-01 Tags: Securus, Platinum Equity, acquisition, leveraged buyout, debt Sources: Platinum Equity-owned prison telecom company Aventiv defaults, faces uncertain future - [confirmed] Aventiv debt from Platinum Equity LBO Platinum Equity loaded Aventiv/Securus with over $1.3 billion in debt to finance its 2017 acquisition. Value: 1.3 billion dollars in debt Date: 2017-01-01 Tags: Aventiv, Securus, Platinum Equity, debt, leveraged buyout Sources: Platinum Equity-owned prison telecom company Aventiv defaults, faces uncertain future - [reported] Securus acquisitions 2012-2018 Securus acquired approximately 12 companies between 2012 and 2018, including videoconferencing, GPS monitoring, biometrics, messaging, and music streaming firms. Value: 12 companies acquired Date: 2018-12-31 Tags: Securus, acquisitions, vertical integration, consolidation Sources: Platinum Equity-owned prison telecom company Aventiv defaults, faces uncertain future - [confirmed] Aventiv bonds crash to 47 cents on dollar March 2024 In March 2024, Aventiv's bonds crashed to 47 cents on the dollar as the FCC prepared its rate-cutting order. Value: 47 cents on the dollar Date: 2024-03-01 Tags: Aventiv, bonds, financial distress, FCC Sources: Platinum Equity-owned prison telecom company Aventiv defaults, faces uncertain future - [confirmed] ViaPath revenue 2019 ViaPath (then GTL) reported $654 million in revenue in 2019. Value: 654 million dollars Date: 2019-12-31 Tags: ViaPath, GTL, revenue Sources: GTL/ViaPath Ordered to Pay $3 Million for Violations of Consumer Protection Laws - [reported] ViaPath debt maturity challenges ViaPath faces its own debt maturity challenges, with $1.4 billion in debt coming due starting in 2025. Value: 1.4 billion dollars in debt Date: 2025-01-01 Tags: ViaPath, GTL, debt, financial distress Sources: GTL/ViaPath Ordered to Pay $3 Million for Violations of Consumer Protection Laws - [reported] Commission rate range nationally Commission rates on prison telecom contracts vary enormously by facility, ranging from zero in some systems to as high as 94% of call revenue in extreme cases. The national average has historically been above 40%. Value: 0–94 percent of call revenue (vs. 40 historical national average (above)) Tags: commission, kickback, national, rate range Sources: State of Phone Justice - [estimated] National commission revenue estimated at $460 million annually Worth Rises estimated that nationwide commission/kickback revenue totaled approximately $460 million annually prior to the FCC's 2024 ban on the practice. Value: 460 million dollars annually Tags: commission, kickback, national, Worth Rises Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over - [confirmed] Glynn County jail commission rate 69% Glynn County jail in Georgia has a 69% commission rate on its Paytel contract—the highest in the coastal Georgia region. The jail averaged 411 daily prisoners and collected more than $300,000 annually in phone and tablet fees. Value: 69 percent commission rate Date: 2023-04-14 Tags: Georgia, Glynn County, jail, commission, Paytel, county jail Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [confirmed] Glynn County jail average daily population Glynn County jail averaged 411 daily prisoners. Value: 411 daily prisoners Date: 2023-04-14 Tags: Georgia, Glynn County, jail, population Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [confirmed] Glynn County jail annual phone/tablet fee revenue Glynn County jail collected more than $300,000 annually in phone and tablet fees. Value: 300000 dollars annually (more than) Date: 2023-04-14 Tags: Georgia, Glynn County, jail, revenue, phone fees, tablet fees Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [confirmed] Chatham County jail commission rate 52% Chatham County detention center in Georgia has a 52% commission rate on its Paytel contract. Families pay $8 for a 20-minute video call. Value: 52 percent commission rate Date: 2023-04-14 Tags: Georgia, Chatham County, jail, commission, Paytel, video calls Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [confirmed] Chatham County jail video call cost Families pay $8 for a 20-minute video call from Chatham County detention center ($0.40/minute). Value: 8 dollars per 20-minute video call Date: 2023-04-14 Tags: Georgia, Chatham County, jail, video call, rates Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [confirmed] Liberty County jail commission rate 50% Liberty County jail in Georgia has a 50% commission rate on its HomeWAV contract. Value: 50 percent commission rate Date: 2023-04-14 Tags: Georgia, Liberty County, jail, commission, HomeWAV, county jail Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [reported] Michigan disguised commission as Special Equipment Fund Michigan formally refused 'commissions' but required providers to pay an $11 million per year 'Special Equipment Fund'—an effective commission rate of 57%. Value: 11 million dollars per year (vs. 57 effective commission rate percent) Tags: Michigan, commission, kickback, Special Equipment Fund Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over - [reported] New York pre-2018 commission rate 60% New York had a 60% commission rate before the state moved toward free calls. Value: 60 percent commission rate Date: 2018-01-01 Tags: New York, commission, kickback, free calls Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over - [confirmed] 2024 FCC order projected savings: 15-minute call reduced from $11.35 to $0.90 Under the 2024 FCC rules, the cost of a 15-minute phone call from a large jail was projected to be reduced from $11.35 to $0.90. Value: 0.90 dollars (15-minute call, new rate) (vs. 11.35 dollars (15-minute call, old rate)) Date: 2024-07-18 Tags: FCC, rate reduction, projected savings, 2024 order Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [estimated] 2024 FCC order projected annual family savings: $500 million The 2024 FCC rules were projected to save families approximately $500 million per year in total. Value: 500 million dollars per year in savings Date: 2024-07-18 Tags: FCC, family savings, 2024 order Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [estimated] 2024 FCC order projected increase in call minutes The 2024 FCC rules were projected to result in nearly 2 billion additional call minutes per year. Value: 2 billion additional call minutes per year Date: 2024-07-18 Tags: FCC, call volume, projected increase, 2024 order Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [confirmed] 2025 interim rules: large prison rate raised to $0.11/minute (83% increase) On October 30, 2025, the FCC voted 2-1 along party lines to adopt new 'interim' rate caps. Large prison phone rate cap raised to $0.11/minute from $0.06—an 83% increase over the 2024 rules. Value: 0.11 dollars per minute (vs. 0.06 2024 FCC rate cap) Date: 2025-10-30 Tags: FCC, rate cap, 2025 interim rules, rate increase, 83 percent increase Sources: Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps - [estimated] Worth Rises: 2025 caps cost families additional $215 million/year Worth Rises estimated the new October 2025 FCC caps would cost families an additional $215 million per year compared to the 2024 rules. Value: 215 million dollars additional per year Date: 2025-10-30 Tags: Worth Rises, FCC, family cost, 2025 interim rules Sources: Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps - [confirmed] Georgia phone rates uniform at $0.06/minute for all call types As of September 2025, Georgia GDC state prison phone rates are $0.06/minute for local, long distance in-state, out-of-state, and international calls (plus associated taxes and regulatory fees for international). Value: 0.06 dollars per minute (all call types) Date: 2025-09-01 Tags: Georgia, GDC, phone rates, Securus, uniform rate Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] Cost of maximum-length Georgia prison call At $0.06/minute, a maximum-length 25-minute call from a Georgia state prison costs $1.50. Value: 1.50 dollars per 25-minute call Tags: Georgia, GDC, phone cost, family burden Sources: Contact an Offender - [estimated] Georgia daily call cost for families: $45/month A Georgia family making one 25-minute call per day at $0.06/minute would spend approximately $45/month on phone calls alone. Value: 45 dollars per month Tags: Georgia, family cost, monthly burden, phone calls Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] Georgia historical commission rate 46% as of 2000 Georgia had a 46% commission rate on prison phone contracts as of 2000 data. Value: 46 percent commission rate Date: 2000-01-01 Tags: Georgia, commission, historical, kickback Sources: Georgia State Prison phone rates and kickbacks - [confirmed] JPay email photo attachment cost A photo attachment to a JPay email in Georgia costs an additional stamp ($0.20-$0.35 extra). Value: 0.20–0.35 dollars per photo (additional stamp) Tags: Georgia, JPay, email, photo, cost Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] JPay videogram cost A JPay videogram costs an additional 3 stamps ($0.60-$1.05 extra) in Georgia. Value: 3 additional stamps ($0.60–$1.05) Tags: Georgia, JPay, videogram, cost Sources: Contact an Offender - [reported] JPay video call historical rate Historical rate for a 30-minute video call through JPay in Georgia was $3.95, though rates may have changed following FCC regulatory actions. Value: 3.95 dollars per 30-minute video call Tags: Georgia, JPay, video call, historical rate Sources: Contact an Offender - [reported] JPay music pricing vs consumer alternatives JPay charges $0.99-$9.99 per song and up to $46 per album in Georgia prisons. By comparison, Spotify charges $10/month for unlimited streaming. Value: 46 dollars per album (up to) (vs. 10 Spotify monthly unlimited streaming cost) Tags: Georgia, JPay, music, pricing, markup, tablets Sources: Pay-for-Play Tablets: The Costly New Prison Paradigm - [confirmed] Georgia JPay money transfer fee: $3.50 for $0.01-$20 Families sending $0.01-$20.00 to incarcerated people in Georgia through JPay pay a $3.50 fee—a 17.5% surcharge on a $20 transfer. Value: 3.50 dollars per transfer ($0.01-$20) (vs. 17.5 percent effective fee on $20 transfer) Tags: Georgia, JPay, money transfer, regressive fees Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] Georgia JPay money transfer fee: $5.00 for $20.01-$100 Families sending $20.01-$100.00 to incarcerated people in Georgia through JPay pay a $5.00 fee—a 10% surcharge on a $50 transfer. Value: 5.00 dollars per transfer ($20.01-$100) (vs. 10 percent effective fee on $50 transfer) Tags: Georgia, JPay, money transfer, regressive fees Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] Georgia JPay money transfer fee: $6.50 for $100.01-$300 Families sending $100.01-$300.00 to incarcerated people in Georgia through JPay pay a $6.50 fee—a 3.25% surcharge on a $200 transfer. Value: 6.50 dollars per transfer ($100.01-$300) (vs. 3.25 percent effective fee on $200 transfer) Tags: Georgia, JPay, money transfer, regressive fees Sources: Contact an Offender - [reported] National prison money transfer industry revenue 2017 The prison money transfer industry generated $99.2 million in revenue in 2017. Value: 99.2 million dollars Date: 2017-12-31 Tags: money transfer, national revenue, industry Sources: State of Phone Justice - [reported] Western Union/MoneyGram prison fees up to $10-$12 on $25 transfer Western Union and MoneyGram partnerships for prison money transfers can charge as much as $10-$12 on a $25 transfer, with a portion kicked back to the telecom provider. Value: 10–12 dollars on a $25 transfer Tags: Western Union, MoneyGram, money transfer, fees, kickback Sources: State of Phone Justice - [confirmed] Glynn County jail phone rates Glynn County jail (Paytel) charges $0.18/minute local, $0.19/minute in-state non-local, $0.21/minute out-of-state. Value: 0.18–0.21 dollars per minute (vs. 0.06 GDC state prison rate) Date: 2023-04-14 Tags: Georgia, Glynn County, jail, phone rates, Paytel Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [reported] Liberty County jail text message cost In Liberty County jail (HomeWAV), text messages cost close to $1 each for tweet-length content. Value: 1 dollar per text message (approximately) Date: 2023-04-14 Tags: Georgia, Liberty County, jail, HomeWAV, text messages Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [confirmed] 3 out of 4 people in local jails not convicted 3 out of 4 people held in local jails have not been convicted—they are legally innocent, awaiting trial, and often unable to make bail. Value: 75 percent of jail population not convicted Tags: jails, pretrial detention, innocent, unconvicted Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [reported] GTL charged $24.99/month for games subscription GTL/ViaPath charged $24.99/month for a games subscription on prison tablets. Value: 24.99 dollars per month Tags: GTL, ViaPath, games, subscription, tablets, extraction Sources: Pay-for-Play Tablets: The Costly New Prison Paradigm - [reported] E-book pricing on prison tablets E-books on prison tablets are priced at $0.99-$19.99. Value: 0.99–19.99 dollars per e-book Tags: tablets, e-books, pricing, extraction Sources: Pay-for-Play Tablets: The Costly New Prison Paradigm - [confirmed] NASPO receives 1% of gross revenue NASPO receives 1% of gross revenue from all products and services provided under its prison telecom master agreement—creating another entity with a financial interest in maximizing charges. Value: 1 percent of gross revenue Tags: NASPO, revenue share, conflict of interest Sources: Pay-for-Play Tablets: The Costly New Prison Paradigm - [reported] 1 in 3 families goes into debt for prison communications 1 in 3 families with an incarcerated loved one goes into debt to stay connected through prison communications. Value: 33 percent of families Tags: family impact, debt, prison communications Sources: Saying 'I Love You' Shouldn't Cost A Thing - [reported] 87% of prison communication financial burden carried by women 87% of the financial burden of prison communications is carried by women, who are disproportionately women of color. Value: 87 percent Tags: family impact, women, gender, racial disparity Sources: Saying 'I Love You' Shouldn't Cost A Thing - [reported] 2.7 million U.S. children have an incarcerated parent 2.7 million children in the United States have an incarcerated parent. Value: 2.7 million children Tags: children, incarcerated parent, family impact Sources: Saying 'I Love You' Shouldn't Cost A Thing - [reported] Extreme family spending can reach $500/month Family spending on prison communications can reach $500/month in extreme cases. Value: 500 dollars per month (extreme cases) Tags: family impact, cost burden, extreme cases Sources: Saying 'I Love You' Shouldn't Cost A Thing - [estimated] Estimated monthly cost for Georgia family: $115-$135 A Georgia family maintaining regular contact with an incarcerated loved one in a GDC state prison is estimated to spend $115-$135/month on communications (phone, email, money transfers, video, entertainment). Value: 115–135 dollars per month Tags: Georgia, family cost, monthly budget, communications total Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] Massachusetts call volume more than doubled after free calls Massachusetts made prison calls free in December 2023, the first state to include all local jails in addition to state prisons. After implementation, call volume more than doubled. Value: 100+ percent increase in call volume Date: 2023-12-01 Tags: Massachusetts, free calls, call volume, jails Sources: FCC allows prisons, jails to charge more for phone and video calls - [confirmed] Minnesota collected $274,000 from non-phone services in 2023 Minnesota, which has free calls, still collected $274,000 in 2023 from non-phone services (photo sharing, money transfers, music). Value: 274000 dollars Date: 2023-12-31 Tags: Minnesota, free calls, non-phone revenue Sources: FCC allows prisons, jails to charge more for phone and video calls - [confirmed] New York free calls since August 1, 2025 New York made prison calls free since August 1, 2025—the first state to implement administratively without legislation. The state estimated an annual cost of $9 million. Value: 9 million dollars annual cost Date: 2025-08-01 Tags: New York, free calls, cost estimate, administrative implementation Sources: FCC Raises Phone Rate Caps, Increasing Burden on Poor Families - [confirmed] New York 45% increase in phone minutes after free calls NYDOCS reported a 45% increase in phone minutes in the first month after making calls free on August 1, 2025. Value: 45 percent increase in phone minutes Date: 2025-09-01 Tags: New York, free calls, call volume increase Sources: FCC Raises Phone Rate Caps, Increasing Burden on Poor Families - [confirmed] NYC made jail calls free in 2019 New York City made jail calls free in 2019, the first jurisdiction in the nation. The policy saved families an estimated $10 million per year. Value: 10 million dollars per year in family savings Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: New York City, free calls, jails, first jurisdiction, family savings Sources: FCC allows prisons, jails to charge more for phone and video calls - [confirmed] 15,500+ contraband cell phones seized in Georgia 2024 Georgia seized 15,500+ contraband cell phones in 2024. Incarcerated people risk harsh disciplinary consequences to obtain them because the authorized communication system is expensive, restrictive, and monopoly-controlled. Value: 15500 contraband cell phones seized (more than) Date: 2024-12-31 Tags: Georgia, contraband, cell phones, seizures, security, market failure - [reported] GPS commissary investigation found 50-300% markups GPS's commissary investigation documented markup rates of 50-300% on basic necessities sold through monopoly vendors in Georgia prisons. Value: 50–300 percent markup Tags: Georgia, commissary, markup, extraction economy, GPS investigation - [estimated] Communications markups exceed 1,000% over consumer telecom costs Prison communications services have markup rates of 1,000%+ over comparable consumer telecommunications costs. Value: 1000+ percent markup over consumer rates Tags: markup, communications, extraction, consumer comparison - [confirmed] Veritas Capital/Goldman Sachs acquired GTL predecessor for $345M in 1999 In 1999, Veritas Capital and Goldman Sachs acquired GTL's predecessor for $345 million. Value: 345 million dollars Date: 1999-01-01 Tags: GTL, ViaPath, Veritas Capital, Goldman Sachs, acquisition Sources: GTL/ViaPath Ordered to Pay $3 Million for Violations of Consumer Protection Laws - [confirmed] American Securities acquired GTL for ~$1 billion in 2011 In 2011, American Securities acquired GTL for approximately $1 billion. Value: 1 billion dollars (approximately) (vs. 345 million dollars (1999 acquisition price)) Date: 2011-01-01 Tags: GTL, ViaPath, American Securities, acquisition Sources: GTL/ViaPath Ordered to Pay $3 Million for Violations of Consumer Protection Laws - [confirmed] JPay email bulk pack: 50 stamps for $10 JPay sells bulk email stamp packs of 50 stamps for $10.00 in Georgia. Value: 10 dollars per 50 stamps Tags: Georgia, JPay, email, bulk pricing Sources: Contact an Offender FINDINGS (25) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Georgia prison phone provider Georgia's Department of Corrections contracts with Securus Technologies for phone services and JPay (a Securus subsidiary) for tablets, email, and money transfers. Tags: Georgia, GDC, Securus, JPay, contract Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] ICSolutions owned by Keefe Group / H.I.G. Capital ICSolutions is owned by Keefe Group, which is part of the H.I.G. Capital portfolio that also dominates prison commissary supply, illustrating the interlocking nature of the prison extraction economy. Tags: ICSolutions, Keefe Group, H.I.G. Capital, private equity, commissary, telecom Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over - [confirmed] Securus corporate structure and ownership Securus Technologies is a subsidiary of Aventiv Technologies, which is owned by Platinum Equity, a private equity firm founded and controlled by billionaire Tom Gores (who also owns the Detroit Pistons). Aventiv is also parent of JPay and AllPaid. Headquartered in Plano, Texas. Tags: Securus, Aventiv, Platinum Equity, Tom Gores, corporate structure, JPay, AllPaid Sources: Aventiv portfolio page, Platinum Equity - [reported] GTL acquired 3+ rivals 2010-2017 Between 2010 and 2017, GTL acquired 3+ rival telecom providers, video software companies, payment services, and ed-tech firms. Date: 2017-12-31 Tags: GTL, ViaPath, acquisitions, vertical integration Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over - [confirmed] Only 3 states above 2025 caps at time of adoption Only three states (Florida, Kentucky, and Oklahoma) had rates above the new October 2025 FCC caps at the time of adoption, meaning most facilities were already compliant with the 2024 rules. Date: 2025-10-30 Tags: FCC, compliance, Florida, Kentucky, Oklahoma, 2025 interim rules Sources: Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps - [confirmed] JP5 tablets deployed in Georgia starting 2015 GDC deployed JP5 tablets (JPay/Securus) to Georgia prisons beginning in 2015. The tablets are provided at 'no cost' to the DOC or to incarcerated individuals. Date: 2015-01-01 Tags: Georgia, GDC, JPay, tablets, JP5, Securus Sources: Contact an Offender - [reported] Georgia tablet hacking for internet access Prisoners in Georgia quickly found ways to hack JP5 tablets for internet access, creating an underground economy. One documented practice: $1,000 worth of prepaid text messages copied to a thumb drive, then sold for $5-10 inside the facility. Date: 2024-11-01 Tags: Georgia, tablets, hacking, contraband, underground economy, JPay Sources: Pay-for-Play Tablets: The Costly New Prison Paradigm - [confirmed] NASPO master agreement for prison telecom Many states use a master agreement administered by NASPO (National Association of State Procurement Officials), with Nevada as lead state. At least nine states had joined as of mid-2024, including Georgia, Wisconsin, Virginia, Arizona, Tennessee, and Nebraska. Date: 2024-06-01 Tags: NASPO, master agreement, procurement, Georgia, telecom Sources: Pay-for-Play Tablets: The Costly New Prison Paradigm - [confirmed] NASPO agreement vendors The NASPO master agreement offers five vendors: GTL/ViaPath, Securus, Advanced Technologies Group, ICSolutions, and Keefe Commissary Network. Tags: NASPO, vendors, GTL, ViaPath, Securus, ICSolutions, Keefe, procurement Sources: Pay-for-Play Tablets: The Costly New Prison Paradigm - [confirmed] Surveillance features of prison tablets Prison tablet communications are subject to full searchability, keyword alert systems, mail scanning with up to 1-year retention, and biometric data collection (voice prints, facial recognition). Tags: surveillance, tablets, monitoring, biometrics, privacy Sources: The FCC Capped Rates on Prison Phone Calls, Here's What Needs to Happen Next - [confirmed] States with free prison calls: 6 states plus NYC Six states and New York City have eliminated phone charges for incarcerated people: Connecticut, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. Tags: free calls, state reform, Connecticut, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York Sources: FCC allows prisons, jails to charge more for phone and video calls - [confirmed] Connecticut first state with free calls Connecticut was the first state to make prison calls free, including video calls and email. Tags: Connecticut, free calls, first state Sources: FCC allows prisons, jails to charge more for phone and video calls - [confirmed] Ameelio founded in 2020 by Yale students Ameelio is a technology nonprofit founded in 2020 by two Yale students, Uzoma 'Zo' Orchingwa and Gabriel Saruhashi. It is the first and only nonprofit provider of incarcerated persons communication services (IPCS) in the United States. Date: 2020-01-01 Tags: Ameelio, nonprofit, alternative model, Orchingwa, Saruhashi, Yale Sources: Ameelio homepage - [confirmed] Ameelio charges DOC not families Ameelio's revenue model charges the Department of Corrections rather than families for access to its communication platform, aligning institutional incentives with family contact. Tags: Ameelio, revenue model, nonprofit, DOC Sources: Ameelio homepage; About Us, Ameelio - [confirmed] Iowa DOC early Ameelio adopter The Iowa Department of Corrections was an early adopter of Ameelio, commissioning it to implement its 'Connect' platform across all nine of the state's prisons. Tags: Iowa, Ameelio, Connect platform, adoption Sources: Ameelio homepage - [confirmed] Ameelio funders include Dorsey, Schmidt, Khosla Ameelio has received funding from Jack Dorsey, Eric Schmidt, Vinod Khosla, and the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. Tags: Ameelio, funding, Jack Dorsey, Eric Schmidt, Vinod Khosla, McGovern Foundation Sources: About Us, Ameelio - [confirmed] Georgia AG Chris Carr leads cell phone jamming advocacy Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has been a national leader on cell phone jamming advocacy, heading coalitions of 23-31 state attorneys general pushing for federal authorization to jam cell phone signals inside prisons. Tags: Georgia, Chris Carr, Attorney General, cell phone jamming, advocacy, coalition - [confirmed] HRDC filed FCC comments since 2007 The Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) / Prison Legal News has filed FCC comments on prison phone rates since 2007. Date: 2007-01-01 Tags: HRDC, Prison Legal News, FCC, advocacy Sources: GTL, Co-Defendant Agree to $21.3 Million Settlement with HRDC in Price-Fixing Lawsuit - [confirmed] Southern Center for Human Rights 2026 priorities The Southern Center for Human Rights (Atlanta) has flagged the burden of communications fees on Georgia families. 2026 priorities include conditions of confinement and parole expansion. Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: Southern Center for Human Rights, Atlanta, Georgia, advocacy, 2026 priorities - [estimated] Georgia family county jail costs 3-4x state prison rates A family with a loved one in a Georgia county jail would pay potentially 3-4 times the amounts charged at GDC state prisons given higher per-minute rates and commission structures. Tags: Georgia, county jails, cost comparison, family burden Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [confirmed] Maine piloting Ameelio tablets Maine is currently piloting Ameelio tablets as part of the nonprofit communications model. Tags: Maine, Ameelio, pilot, tablets, nonprofit Sources: Ameelio homepage - [reported] Families forgo basic needs for prison communications Families report forgoing food, medical care, utility payments, and other basic needs to maintain contact with incarcerated loved ones. Tags: family impact, basic needs, poverty, sacrifice Sources: Saying 'I Love You' Shouldn't Cost A Thing - [confirmed] Prison tablets operate on closed network without internet JPay tablets in Georgia operate on a closed network without internet access. Tags: Georgia, JPay, tablets, closed network, no internet Sources: Contact an Offender - [reported] Securus promoting tablets amid bankruptcy threat In 2024, Securus explicitly pushed to promote tablet adoption and content sales even as the company faced potential bankruptcy, as a strategy to shift revenue from regulated phone services to unregulated tablet services. Date: 2024-11-15 Tags: Securus, tablets, revenue shift, bankruptcy, strategy Sources: Facing Bankruptcy, Securus Promotes Prison Tablets - [confirmed] Securus phone number for account setup Pre-paid collect or direct bill accounts can be established through Securus's website or by calling 1-800-844-6591. Tags: Securus, account setup, contact information Sources: Contact an Offender CASE DETAILS (14) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] H.I.G. Capital acquires T-Netix to create Securus (2004) In 2004, H.I.G. Capital acquired T-Netix and merged it with Evercom to create Securus Technologies. Date: 2004-01-01 Tags: Securus, H.I.G. Capital, T-Netix, Evercom, private equity, acquisition Sources: Platinum Equity-owned prison telecom company Aventiv defaults, faces uncertain future - [confirmed] Aventiv failed refinancing attempt May 2023 In May 2023, Aventiv attempted to refinance with a $700 million term loan and $400 million in new junk bonds, with Platinum offering to inject $400 million in equity. The effort failed. Date: 2023-05-01 Tags: Aventiv, refinancing, debt crisis, Platinum Equity Sources: Platinum Equity-owned prison telecom company Aventiv defaults, faces uncertain future - [confirmed] Aventiv effectively defaults April 2024 In April 2024, Aventiv effectively defaulted on its debt. Bloomberg reported a deal with lenders extending maturity dates by eight months, with lenders demanding Platinum sell Aventiv within one year. S&P Global and Moody's both downgraded Aventiv to deep junk status (CCC-). Date: 2024-04-01 Tags: Aventiv, default, credit downgrade, CCC-, S&P, Moody's, Platinum Equity Sources: Platinum Equity-owned prison telecom company Aventiv defaults, faces uncertain future - [confirmed] Aventiv missed December 2024 sale deadline In January 2025, Bloomberg reported Aventiv missed its December 2024 deadline to find a buyer. A three-person committee was formed to oversee restructuring, with the company inching toward a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Date: 2025-01-08 Tags: Aventiv, bankruptcy, restructuring, sale deadline Sources: Platinum-Backed Aventiv Mulls Bankruptcy as Sale Date Ends - [confirmed] Aventiv distressed debt-for-equity exchange April 2025 In April 2025, Aventiv announced a distressed debt-for-equity exchange with creditors, narrowly avoiding formal bankruptcy. The majority of outstanding debt was eliminated in exchange for equity shares, meaning Platinum Equity's creditors effectively take ownership. A $360 million loan was issued as part of the restructuring. FCC must approve the ownership change. Date: 2025-04-16 Tags: Aventiv, debt-for-equity, restructuring, Platinum Equity, FCC approval Sources: Platinum Equity's Aventiv announces distressed debt exchange months after FCC regulations take effect; Aventiv Technologies Reaches Agreement with Key Financial Stakeholders - [confirmed] GTL/ViaPath private equity acquisition history In 1999, Veritas Capital and Goldman Sachs acquired GTL's predecessor for $345 million. In 2011, American Securities acquired GTL for approximately $1 billion. Date: 2011-01-01 Tags: GTL, ViaPath, Veritas Capital, Goldman Sachs, American Securities, private equity, acquisition Sources: GTL/ViaPath Ordered to Pay $3 Million for Violations of Consumer Protection Laws - [confirmed] GTL rebrands as ViaPath Technologies 2022 In 2022, Global Tel*Link (GTL) rebranded as ViaPath Technologies. Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: GTL, ViaPath, rebrand Sources: GTL/ViaPath Ordered to Pay $3 Million for Violations of Consumer Protection Laws - [confirmed] Martha Wright filed original suit in 2000 The fight for affordable prison phone rates began in 2000, when Martha Wright—a grandmother paying exorbitant fees to call her incarcerated grandson—filed suit alongside other families and the Center for Constitutional Rights against Corrections Corporation of America. Date: 2000-01-01 Tags: Martha Wright, lawsuit, Center for Constitutional Rights, CCA, prison phone reform, history Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [confirmed] Baxter County Arkansas sheriff threatened to end phone services The Baxter County, Arkansas sheriff announced in February 2025 that the local jail would stop providing phone services entirely on April 1, citing the loss of commission revenue from its Securus contract. Date: 2025-02-01 Tags: Baxter County, Arkansas, retaliation, phone services, Securus, commission Sources: FCC Backtracks on 2024 Order to Cut Prison Phone and Video Rates by Half - [confirmed] Bulloch County jail Securus charges In Bulloch County jail (Securus), there is a $3.00 deposit fee plus per-minute charges. One college student reported spending half her weekly paycheck on phone fees. Date: 2023-04-14 Tags: Georgia, Bulloch County, jail, Securus, deposit fee Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [reported] Worth Rises blocked Securus/ICSolutions merger in 2018 Worth Rises is credited with blocking a proposed Securus/ICSolutions merger in 2018. Date: 2018-01-01 Tags: Worth Rises, Securus, ICSolutions, merger, blocked, advocacy Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over - [reported] Worth Rises pressured PA pension to decline $150M Securus investment Worth Rises pressured the Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System to decline a $150 million investment in Securus in 2023. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: Worth Rises, Pennsylvania, pension, Securus, divestment, advocacy Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over - [confirmed] Securus parent rebranded to Aventiv 2018-2020 Between 2018 and 2020, Securus's parent company rebranded as Aventiv Technologies. Date: 2020-01-01 Tags: Securus, Aventiv, rebrand Sources: Aventiv portfolio page, Platinum Equity - [reported] Bulloch County college student spent half weekly paycheck on phone fees At the Bulloch County jail (Securus contract), one college student reported spending half her weekly paycheck on phone fees to maintain contact with an incarcerated loved one. Date: 2023-04-14 Tags: Georgia, Bulloch County, jail, personal story, financial burden, Securus Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication LEGAL FACTS (8) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] ViaPath ordered to pay $3 million for consumer protection violations In 2025, GTL/ViaPath was ordered to pay $3 million for violations of consumer protection laws. Date: 2025-06-01 Tags: ViaPath, GTL, legal, consumer protection, penalty Sources: GTL/ViaPath Ordered to Pay $3 Million for Violations of Consumer Protection Laws - [confirmed] ViaPath $21.3 million settlement with HRDC GTL/ViaPath agreed to a $21.3 million settlement with the Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) in a price-fixing lawsuit in 2025. Date: 2025-04-01 Tags: ViaPath, GTL, HRDC, price-fixing, settlement, legal Sources: GTL, Co-Defendant Agree to $21.3 Million Settlement with HRDC in Price-Fixing Lawsuit - [confirmed] Martha Wright-Reed Act passed December 2022 In December 2022, Congress passed the bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, signed by President Biden. The law expanded FCC authority to regulate phone and video calls from prisons and jails, requiring 'just and reasonable' rates. Date: 2022-12-01 Tags: Martha Wright-Reed Act, legislation, FCC, video calls, regulation, Biden Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [confirmed] FCC 2024 order voted unanimously July 18 2024 On July 18, 2024, the FCC voted unanimously—including Trump-appointed Commissioner Brendan Carr—to adopt sweeping new rules on prison phone and video rates. Date: 2024-07-18 Tags: FCC, rate caps, unanimous vote, Brendan Carr, regulation Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [confirmed] 14 Republican AGs sued to preserve commission kickbacks 14 Republican Attorneys General filed suit challenging FCC authority, specifically opposing the elimination of site commissions (i.e., fighting to preserve their kickback revenue). Tags: FCC, lawsuit, attorneys general, commission, kickback, Republican Sources: FCC Backtracks on 2024 Order to Cut Prison Phone and Video Rates by Half - [confirmed] First Circuit rejected Securus stay request November 2024 The First Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Securus and Pay Tel's request for a stay of the FCC prison phone rate caps in November 2024, finding the companies did not meet the required standards. Date: 2024-11-01 Tags: First Circuit, Securus, Pay Tel, stay request, FCC, legal Sources: First Circuit Rejects Request by Securus and Pay Tel to Stay FCC Prison Phone Rate Caps - [confirmed] E-messaging not regulated by FCC E-messaging is not regulated by the FCC. The Martha Wright-Reed Act carved out e-messaging from rate regulation because it is not classified as audio or video communication, meaning there is no federal limit on what companies can charge. Tags: FCC, e-messaging, regulation gap, Martha Wright-Reed Act, tablets Sources: Pay-for-Play Tablets: The Costly New Prison Paradigm - [confirmed] Public interest groups filed review of 2025 rules Public interest groups including Worth Rises, UCC Media Justice, and Benton Institute filed applications for review of the weakened 2025 FCC rules. Tags: Worth Rises, UCC Media Justice, Benton Institute, FCC, legal challenge, 2025 rules Sources: Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps POLICYS (22) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Georgia PSC 2009 rate action In 2009, Georgia's Public Service Commission set rates that allowed $2 surcharges on top of per-minute or per-call charges. The FCC later banned these surcharges. Date: 2009-01-01 Tags: Georgia, PSC, Public Service Commission, rates, surcharges, regulation Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [confirmed] Georgia PSC 2016 rate cap In 2016, Georgia's Public Service Commission capped local calls at $0.18/minute ($2.70 for a 15-minute call). Date: 2016-01-01 Tags: Georgia, PSC, rate cap, local calls, regulation Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [confirmed] Georgia PSC 2017 rate limits In 2017, Georgia's Public Service Commission limited in-state non-local call charges based on institution size and limited commission amounts. No further action has been taken since. Date: 2017-01-01 Tags: Georgia, PSC, rate cap, commission limits, regulation Sources: Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication - [confirmed] 2024 FCC phone rate cap for prisons: $0.06/minute The 2024 FCC order set phone rate caps at $0.06/minute for state/federal prisons and large jails (1,000+ inmates). Date: 2024-07-18 Tags: FCC, rate cap, prisons, phone rates, 2024 order Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [confirmed] 2024 FCC phone rate caps by jail size The 2024 FCC order set phone rate caps of $0.07/minute for medium jails (350-999), $0.09/minute for small jails (100-349), and $0.12/minute for very small jails (under 100). Date: 2024-07-18 Tags: FCC, rate cap, jails, phone rates, 2024 order Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [confirmed] 2024 FCC video call rate caps (interim) The 2024 FCC order set interim video call rate caps at $0.16/minute for prisons and $0.11-$0.25/minute for jails depending on facility size. Date: 2024-07-18 Tags: FCC, rate cap, video calls, 2024 order Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [confirmed] 2024 FCC order banned all site commission kickbacks The 2024 FCC order banned all site commission kickbacks—the estimated $460 million annual revenue stream to correctional facilities from telecom companies. Date: 2024-07-18 Tags: FCC, commission ban, kickback, 2024 order Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [confirmed] 2024 FCC order eliminated ancillary fees The 2024 FCC order eliminated all ancillary fees including account funding fees, paper billing fees, live agent fees, and third-party transaction fees. Date: 2024-07-18 Tags: FCC, ancillary fees, 2024 order Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [confirmed] 2024 FCC order implementation timeline The 2024 FCC order implementation timeline: January 1, 2025 for prisons and large jails; April 1, 2025 for smaller jails; July 1, 2025 for facilities with legally mandated commissions. Date: 2025-01-01 Tags: FCC, implementation, timeline, 2024 order Sources: UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates - [confirmed] FCC reversed 2024 rules on June 30 2025 On June 30, 2025, the new Republican-majority FCC (Commissioners Carr and Trusty) announced a two-year postponement of the 2024 rules, citing 'implementation challenges' and 'safety/security concerns.' Date: 2025-06-30 Tags: FCC, reversal, Trump administration, Carr, Trusty, 2024 rules, postponement Sources: FCC postpones its groundbreaking 2024 rules, allowing excessive phone and video rates to continue - [confirmed] 2025 interim phone rate caps by jail size The October 2025 FCC interim rules set phone rate caps at: $0.11/minute for large jails (1,000+), $0.12/minute for medium jails, $0.14/minute for small jails, and $0.18/minute for very small jails (was $0.12—a 50% increase). Date: 2025-10-30 Tags: FCC, rate cap, 2025 interim rules, jails Sources: Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps - [confirmed] 2025 interim video call rate caps The October 2025 FCC interim rules set video call rate caps at $0.23/minute for large facilities and up to $0.41/minute for small facilities. Date: 2025-10-30 Tags: FCC, rate cap, video calls, 2025 interim rules Sources: Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps - [confirmed] 2025 FCC rules added $0.02/minute facility cost recovery additive The October 2025 FCC rules added a $0.02/minute 'facility cost recovery' additive on top of rate caps—effectively a backdoor restoration of the commission system the 2024 rules had banned. Date: 2025-10-30 Tags: FCC, facility cost recovery, commission, backdoor, 2025 interim rules Sources: Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps - [confirmed] 2025 FCC rules take effect 120 days after Federal Register publication The new October 2025 FCC rates take effect 120 days after publication in the Federal Register. The last rate extension expires on April 1, 2026. Date: 2026-04-01 Tags: FCC, implementation timeline, 2025 interim rules Sources: Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps - [confirmed] FCC opened new rulemaking December 5, 2025 The FCC opened a new proposed rulemaking on December 5, 2025, with a comment deadline of January 5, 2026. Date: 2025-12-05 Tags: FCC, rulemaking, comment period Sources: Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps - [confirmed] Georgia maximum call duration 25 minutes Georgia GDC state prison calls have a maximum duration of 25 minutes. All calls are subject to monitoring and recording. Tags: Georgia, GDC, call limit, monitoring, Securus Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] Georgia JPay maximum single deposit $200 The maximum single deposit through JPay in Georgia is $200. Tags: Georgia, JPay, money transfer, deposit limit Sources: Contact an Offender - [confirmed] 2024 FCC rules prohibited charging for surveillance costs The FCC's 2024 rules specifically prohibited providers from charging incarcerated people and their families for the cost of monitoring technology, finding it serves 'discretionary needs of the facility' and is not 'used and useful' to the consumer. Date: 2024-07-18 Tags: FCC, surveillance, monitoring costs, 2024 order Sources: The FCC Capped Rates on Prison Phone Calls, Here's What Needs to Happen Next - [confirmed] Missouri capped phone rates at $0.12/minute August 2025 Missouri enacted a law in August 2025 capping phone rates at $0.12/minute in correctional centers. Date: 2025-08-01 Tags: Missouri, rate cap, legislation Sources: FCC allows prisons, jails to charge more for phone and video calls - [confirmed] Florida governor vetoed free call pilot program 2023 Florida Governor DeSantis vetoed a $1 million pilot program in 2023 that would have provided one free 15-minute call per month. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: Florida, DeSantis, veto, free calls, pilot program Sources: FCC allows prisons, jails to charge more for phone and video calls - [confirmed] Colorado full free-call implementation in 2026 Colorado passed legislation for free prison calls with full implementation scheduled for 2026. Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: Colorado, free calls, legislation, implementation Sources: FCC allows prisons, jails to charge more for phone and video calls - [confirmed] Securus account funding: $1 increments from trust accounts Incarcerated people in Georgia can transfer money from their trust accounts to debit calling accounts with Securus in $1 increments. Tags: Georgia, Securus, trust account, calling account, funding Sources: Contact an Offender QUOTES (9) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Commissioner Gomez dissent on FCC reversal FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez (Biden appointee) dissented from the June 2025 FCC reversal, calling it 'shielding a broken system that inflates costs and rewards kickbacks to correctional facilities at the expense of incarcerated individuals and their loved ones.' Date: 2025-06-30 Tags: FCC, Anna Gomez, dissent, quote Sources: FCC postpones its groundbreaking 2024 rules, allowing excessive phone and video rates to continue - [confirmed] Tom Gores says industry should be led by nonprofits Tom Gores, CEO of Platinum Equity (owner of Securus/Aventiv), stated: 'Ultimately, I think this industry really should be led probably not by private folks. I think it probably should be — I'll get killed for saying this — but the nonprofit business, honestly.' Tags: Tom Gores, Platinum Equity, Aventiv, Securus, nonprofit, quote Sources: About Us, Ameelio - [confirmed] Bianca Tylek quote on FCC betrayal Bianca Tylek, Executive Director of Worth Rises, stated: 'These changes are a betrayal of the families who entrusted the FCC to protect them from the notoriously predatory correctional telecom industry.' Date: 2025-10-30 Tags: Worth Rises, Bianca Tylek, FCC, quote, advocacy Sources: Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps - [reported] Zombr3x quote on prison industrial complex Zombr3x, an incarcerated person in Georgia, stated: 'Less money for the prison industrial complex means less money for kickbacks to wardens and commissioners.' Tags: Georgia, incarcerated person, quote, Shadowproof Sources: Georgia Prisoners May Lose Critical Lifelines as Telecom Rates Targeted - [confirmed] S'hantel Butler quote on profit maximization S'hantel Butler, Army veteran and family member of Georgia incarcerated person, stated: 'You're minimizing how much the prisoners can do, and you're maximizing the profits.' Tags: Georgia, family member, quote, veteran, S'hantel Butler Sources: Georgia Prisoners May Lose Critical Lifelines as Telecom Rates Targeted - [confirmed] Commissioner Gomez quote on October 2025 order FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez called the October 2025 order 'indefensible,' stating: 'Today, the Commission adopts an order that gives monopoly companies facing zero competition, the authority to increase the costs for families to maintain critical connections with their loved ones in prison.' Date: 2025-10-30 Tags: FCC, Anna Gomez, dissent, quote, 2025 interim rules Sources: Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps - [reported] Dane County supervisor quote on moral compass A Dane County Supervisor stated about prison phone commission revenue: 'We've lost our moral compass and direction for a million bucks a year.' Tags: Dane County, commission, quote, moral argument Sources: Saying 'I Love You' Shouldn't Cost A Thing - [reported] John West quote on prisoners as cash machines John West, family member of an incarcerated person, stated: 'A lot of times prisoners are thought of as cash machines.' Tags: family member, quote, exploitation Sources: Saying 'I Love You' Shouldn't Cost A Thing - [reported] Worth Rises quote on unsustainable profitability Worth Rises characterized Aventiv/Securus's business model: 'They must be unjustly and unsustainably profitable to service their debt and generate the returns private equity investors demand.' Tags: Worth Rises, Aventiv, Securus, private equity, debt, profitability Sources: The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over DATA GAPS (7) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Georgia has taken no legislative action on prison phone reform Georgia has taken no legislative action to provide free calls or further reduce rates, despite ranking third nationally in kickback revenue. No bills have advanced in the Georgia General Assembly. Tags: Georgia, legislative inaction, reform, free calls, General Assembly Sources: FCC allows prisons, jails to charge more for phone and video calls - [confirmed] Ameelio does not currently operate in Georgia Ameelio does not currently operate in Georgia, but the nonprofit model offers a proof-of-concept that communication services can be provided at a fraction of the cost for-profit companies charge. Tags: Georgia, Ameelio, nonprofit alternative, advocacy opportunity Sources: Ameelio homepage - [confirmed] Data gap: Current Georgia-Securus contract terms The full Georgia-Securus contract including current commission percentage, total annual revenue, term dates, and renewal provisions is not publicly available. The most recent publicly available amendment covers 2017-2021. Tags: Georgia, Securus, contract, data gap, FOIA - [confirmed] Data gap: Total annual revenue extracted from Georgia families The aggregate amount Georgia families pay across all communication services (phone, video, email, money transfers, tablet content) has never been publicly reported. Tags: Georgia, total revenue, data gap, family extraction - [confirmed] Data gap: Georgia county jail contracts survey A systematic survey of telecom contracts, providers, rates, and commission rates across Georgia's 159 counties has not been conducted. Tags: Georgia, county jails, data gap, contracts, survey - [confirmed] Data gap: Number of JPay tablets deployed in Georgia How many JPay tablets are currently in use across GDC facilities and the revenue breakdown by service type has not been publicly reported. Tags: Georgia, JPay, tablets, data gap - [confirmed] Data gap: How GDC allocates $8M+ in commission revenue How GDC allocates the $8+ million in annual commission revenue has not been publicly reported. This is a FOIA-able question. Tags: Georgia, GDC, commission spending, data gap, FOIA DATASETS (11) ---------------------------------------- # Securus/Aventiv Private Equity Ownership Timeline Timeline of private equity acquisitions of Securus Technologies and associated valuations Year Acquirer Price (Millions USD) Key Detail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2004 H.I.G. Capital N/A Acquired T-Netix, merged with Evercom to create Securus 2011 Castle Harlan Partners 440 2013 ABRY Partners 640 2017 Platinum Equity 1500 Over $1.3B in debt taken on 2025 Creditors (debt-for-equity) N/A $360M new loan; Platinum loses control # GTL/ViaPath Private Equity Ownership Timeline Timeline of private equity acquisitions of GTL/ViaPath Technologies Year Acquirer Price (Millions USD) Key Detail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1999 Veritas Capital / Goldman Sachs 345 Acquired GTL predecessor 2011 American Securities 1000 2022 N/A N/A Rebranded as ViaPath Technologies # 2024 FCC Phone Rate Caps by Facility Type Phone rate caps established by the July 2024 FCC order Facility Type Size Criteria 2024 Rate Cap ($/min) Implementation Date -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State/Federal Prisons All sizes 0.06 January 1, 2025 Large Jails 1,000+ inmates 0.06 January 1, 2025 Medium Jails 350-999 inmates 0.07 April 1, 2025 Small Jails 100-349 inmates 0.09 April 1, 2025 Very Small Jails Under 100 inmates 0.12 April 1, 2025 # 2025 FCC Interim Phone Rate Caps vs 2024 Caps Comparison of October 2025 interim rate caps with the 2024 FCC rules they replaced Facility Type 2024 Rate Cap ($/min) 2025 Interim Rate Cap ($/min) Percent Increase ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Large Prisons 0.06 0.11 83 Large Jails (1,000+) 0.06 0.11 83 Medium Jails 0.07 0.12 71 Small Jails 0.09 0.14 56 Very Small Jails 0.12 0.18 50 # 2025 FCC Interim Video Call Rate Caps Video call rate caps under the October 2025 interim rules Facility Size Rate Cap ($/min) ------------------------------------ Large Facilities 0.23 Small Facilities 0.41 # Georgia JPay Money Transfer Fee Schedule Fee structure for JPay money transfers in Georgia DOC facilities Transfer Amount Range Fee (USD) Effective Fee Rate on Min Amount Effective Fee Rate on Max Amount ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $0.01–$20.00 3.50 N/A 17.5 $20.01–$100.00 5.00 25.0 5.0 $100.01–$300.00 6.50 6.5 2.2 # Estimated Monthly Communication Costs for Georgia Family (GDC State Prison) Estimated monthly budget for a Georgia family maintaining regular contact with an incarcerated loved one Service Frequency Unit Cost (USD) Monthly Cost (USD) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Phone calls (25 min) Daily 1.50 45.00 Email stamps 3/day sent + reading 0.20 (bulk) 18.00 Money transfer 2x/month, $100 each 5.00 10.00 Video calls (30 min) 2x/week 4.00 32.00 Music/entertainment Monthly Varies 10.00–30.00 TOTAL 115.00–135.00 # Georgia Coastal County Jail Commission Rates and Providers Commission rates and telecom providers for selected Georgia county jails County Provider Commission Rate (%) Notable Rate Detail --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Glynn County Paytel 69 $0.18-$0.21/min phone; >$300K annual revenue Chatham County Paytel 52 $8 for 20-min video call Liberty County HomeWAV 50 ~$1 per text message Bulloch County Securus N/A $3.00 deposit fee + per-minute # States with Free Prison Calls U.S. states and jurisdictions that have eliminated phone charges for incarcerated people Jurisdiction Scope Implementation Details Key Impact ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Connecticut State prisons First state; includes video and email California State prisons Free calls Colorado State prisons Legislation passed; full implementation 2026 Massachusetts State prisons + all local jails Free since December 2023; first to include jails Call volume more than doubled Minnesota State prisons Free calls $274K collected from non-phone services in 2023 New York State prisons Free since August 1, 2025; administrative (no legislation) 45% increase in phone minutes first month; $9M annual cost New York City City jails Free since 2019; first jurisdiction $10M annual family savings # Private Equity Ownership Across Prison Extraction Economy Map of private equity ownership connections across different prison services PE Firm Company Owned Service Type ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Platinum Equity Aventiv/Securus/JPay Communications H.I.G. Capital Keefe Group/ICSolutions Commissary + Communications American Securities ViaPath/GTL Communications Various PE Trinity Services Group Food service Various PE Corizon Health (bankrupt) Medical care Various PE CoreCivic Private prison operator Various PE GEO Group Private prison operator # Aventiv/Securus Financial Distress Timeline Key dates in the financial collapse and restructuring of Aventiv/Securus Date Event Key Detail ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- May 2023 Failed refinancing attempt $700M term loan + $400M bonds + $400M equity injection all failed March 2024 Bond crash Bonds fall to 47 cents on dollar April 2024 Effective default Lenders extend maturity 8 months; demand sale within 1 year; CCC- downgrade January 2025 Missed sale deadline December 2024 buyer deadline missed; restructuring committee formed April 2025 Distressed debt-for-equity Creditors take ownership; $360M new loan; FCC must approve KEY ENTITIES (60) ---------------------------------------- - ABRY Partners [organization]: Private equity firm that acquired Securus Technologies in 2013 for $640 million. - Advanced Technologies Group [organization]: One of five vendors on the NASPO master agreement for prison telecommunications. - AllPaid [organization]: Subsidiary of Aventiv Technologies providing government payment processing services. - Ameelio [organization]: Technology nonprofit founded 2020 by Uzoma Orchingwa and Gabriel Saruhashi (Yale students). First and only nonprofit IPCS provider in the U.S. Provides free communication tools to incarcerated people. Revenue model charges DOC rather than families. Iowa DOC early adopter. Maine piloting tablets. Funded by Jack Dorsey, Eric Schmidt, Vinod Khosla, McGovern Foundation. - American Securities [organization]: Private equity firm that acquired GTL (now ViaPath) in 2011 for approximately $1 billion. - Anna Gomez [person]: FCC Commissioner (Biden appointee). Dissented from the June 2025 FCC reversal and October 2025 interim rate cap increases. Called the October 2025 order 'indefensible.' - Aventiv Technologies [organization]: Parent company of Securus Technologies, JPay, and AllPaid. Owned by Platinum Equity (subject to creditor transfer pending FCC approval). Headquartered in Plano, Texas. Near-bankruptcy with $1.3B+ in debt from 2017 leveraged buyout. (aka: Aventiv) - Benton Institute [organization]: Filed applications for review of weakened 2025 FCC rules alongside Worth Rises and UCC Media Justice. - Bianca Tylek [person]: Executive Director of Worth Rises. Leading national advocate on prison telecom exploitation. - Brendan Carr [person]: FCC Commissioner (Trump-appointed). Voted for the unanimous 2024 rate cap order. As part of the new Republican majority, led the June 2025 postponement and October 2025 rate increases. - Bulloch County Jail [facility]: Georgia county jail contracting with Securus. $3.00 deposit fee plus per-minute charges. One college student reported spending half weekly paycheck on phone fees. - Castle Harlan Partners [organization]: Private equity firm that purchased Securus Technologies in 2011 for $440 million. (aka: Castle Harlan) - Center for Constitutional Rights [organization]: Co-plaintiff with Martha Wright in the original 2000 lawsuit against Corrections Corporation of America over prison phone rates. (aka: CCR) - Chatham County Detention Center [facility]: Georgia county jail with 52% commission rate on Paytel contract. Charges $8 for a 20-minute video call ($0.40/minute). (aka: Chatham County jail) - Chris Carr [person]: Georgia Attorney General. National leader on cell phone jamming advocacy in prisons, heading coalitions of 23-31 state attorneys general pushing for federal authorization. - Commissioner Trusty [person]: FCC Commissioner. Part of the new Republican majority that postponed the 2024 rules in June 2025. - Corizon Health [organization]: Formerly dominant for-profit prison healthcare provider. Now bankrupt. - Corrections Corporation of America [organization]: Private prison operator. Defendant in the original 2000 Martha Wright lawsuit over prison phone rates. (aka: CCA, CoreCivic) - EPIC [organization]: Advocates for privacy protections in prison telecom, including opposition to biometric surveillance charges. (aka: Electronic Privacy Information Center) - Equal Justice Initiative [organization]: Reported on FCC phone rate cap increases and their burden on poor families. (aka: EJI) - Eric Schmidt [person]: Former Google CEO; funder of Ameelio nonprofit prison telecom provider. - Federal Communications Commission [organization]: Federal agency regulating telecommunications. Adopted sweeping prison phone/video rate caps in July 2024 (unanimous vote). Under new Trump-era Republican majority, reversed course in June 2025 (two-year postponement) and adopted higher interim caps in October 2025 (2-1 party-line vote). (aka: FCC) - Gabriel Saruhashi [person]: Co-founder of Ameelio. Yale student at time of founding in 2020. - Georgia Department of Corrections [organization]: State agency administering Georgia's prison system. Contracts with Securus Technologies for phone services and JPay for tablets/email/money transfers. Received $8,062,200.60 in commission kickbacks in FY 2018-2019. (aka: GDC, Georgia DOC) - Georgia Prisoners' Speak [organization]: Journalism organization documenting conditions in Georgia's prison system. Conducted commissary investigation documenting 50-300% markups. Produced this communications research brief. (aka: GPS) - Georgia Public Service Commission [organization]: Five-member board overseeing Georgia utilities including calls from correctional facilities. Set rates in 2009, capped rates in 2016 and 2017. No action since 2017. (aka: PSC, Georgia PSC) - Glynn County Jail [facility]: Georgia county jail with 69% commission rate on Paytel contract—highest in coastal Georgia. Averaged 411 daily prisoners. Collected more than $300,000 annually in phone/tablet fees. - Goldman Sachs [organization]: Investment bank. With Veritas Capital, acquired GTL's predecessor in 1999 for $345 million. - H.I.G. Capital [organization]: Private equity firm. Owns Keefe Group (commissary + ICSolutions telecom). Originally acquired T-Netix in 2004 and created Securus Technologies. Controls both commissary and communications segments of prison extraction economy. - HomeWAV [organization]: Prison telecom provider. Contracts with Liberty County jail in Georgia (50% commission rate). Charges close to $1 per text message. - Human Rights Defense Center [organization]: Publisher of Prison Legal News. Filed FCC comments since 2007. Won $21.3 million settlement against GTL/ViaPath in price-fixing lawsuit (2025). (aka: HRDC) - ICSolutions [organization]: Third-largest prison telecom provider, distant third behind Securus and ViaPath. Owned by Keefe Group (H.I.G. Capital portfolio), creating overlap with prison commissary operations. - Jack Dorsey [person]: Tech entrepreneur; funder of Ameelio nonprofit prison telecom provider. - John West [person]: Family member of an incarcerated person. Quoted: 'A lot of times prisoners are thought of as cash machines.' - JPay [organization]: Subsidiary of Aventiv Technologies (Securus parent). Provides money transfers, email/e-messaging, and tablet services in Georgia DOC and other correctional systems. Deployed JP5 tablets in Georgia starting 2015. - Keefe Group [organization]: Parent of ICSolutions and dominant prison commissary supplier. Part of the H.I.G. Capital private equity portfolio. Also referred to as Keefe Commissary Network in NASPO agreement. (aka: Keefe Commissary Network) - Liberty County Jail [facility]: Georgia county jail with 50% commission rate on HomeWAV contract. Text messages cost close to $1 each. - Martha Wright [person]: Grandmother who in 2000 filed suit over exorbitant prison phone fees to call her incarcerated grandson, alongside the Center for Constitutional Rights. The Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act (2022) was named in her honor. (aka: Martha Wright-Reed) - Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act [legislation]: Bipartisan federal law passed December 2022, signed by President Biden. Expanded FCC authority to regulate phone and video calls from prisons and jails. Required 'just and reasonable' rates. Carved out e-messaging from rate regulation. (aka: Martha Wright-Reed Act) - NASPO [organization]: Administers master agreement for prison telecom procurement. Nevada is lead state. At least 9 states joined including Georgia. Receives 1% of gross revenue from all products/services under the agreement. (aka: National Association of State Procurement Officials) - Patrick J. McGovern Foundation [organization]: Funder of Ameelio nonprofit prison telecom provider. (aka: McGovern Foundation) - Paytel [organization]: Prison telecom provider. Contracts with Glynn County (69% commission) and Chatham County (52% commission) jails in Georgia. Filed legal challenge against FCC rate caps alongside Securus. (aka: Pay Tel) - Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System [organization]: State pension fund that declined a $150 million investment in Securus in 2023 following pressure from Worth Rises. - Platinum Equity [organization]: Private equity firm founded and controlled by Tom Gores. Acquired Securus in 2017 for ~$1.5B. Losing ownership of Aventiv through debt-for-equity exchange with creditors. - Prison Legal News [organization]: Publication of the Human Rights Defense Center. Published March 2025 cover story 'Pay-for-Play Tablets: The Costly New Prison Paradigm' documenting the shift to tablet-based extraction. (aka: PLN) - Prison Policy Initiative [organization]: Primary research organization on prison phone rates. Maintains the most comprehensive national data on call costs, commission rates, and contract terms. (aka: PPI) - Private Equity Stakeholder Project [organization]: Organization tracking private equity impacts. Published reports on Aventiv's default and restructuring. (aka: PESP) - Reform Georgia [organization]: State-level advocacy platform calling for fee-free communication for all Georgia facilities. - S'hantel Butler [person]: Army veteran and family member of a Georgia incarcerated person. Quoted on exploitation: 'You're minimizing how much the prisoners can do, and you're maximizing the profits.' - Securus Technologies [organization]: Subsidiary of Aventiv Technologies; one of two dominant prison telecom providers controlling ~80% of U.S. market. Headquartered in Plano, Texas. Contracts with Georgia DOC for phone services. Serves approximately 3,450 correctional facilities. (aka: Securus) - Southern Center for Human Rights [organization]: Atlanta-based legal advocacy organization. Flagged the burden of communications fees on Georgia families. 2026 priorities include conditions of confinement and parole expansion. (aka: SCHR) - The Current (Coastal Georgia) [organization]: Coastal Georgia news outlet. Published April 2023 investigation on county jail telecom profiting. (aka: The Current) - Tom Gores [person]: Billionaire founder and CEO of Platinum Equity; owner of the Detroit Pistons. Controls the PE firm that owns Aventiv/Securus. Has publicly stated the prison telecom industry should be led by nonprofits. - Trinity Services Group [organization]: Prison food service company owned by private equity. Part of the broader extraction economy GPS has documented through commissary investigations. (aka: Trinity) - UCC Media Justice [organization]: Led the congressional push for the Martha Wright-Reed Act. Filed applications for review of weakened 2025 FCC rules. (aka: UCC Media Justice Ministry) - Uzoma Orchingwa [person]: Co-founder of Ameelio, the first nonprofit prison telecom provider. Yale student at time of founding in 2020. (aka: Zo Orchingwa, Zo) - Veritas Capital [organization]: Private equity firm that, with Goldman Sachs, acquired GTL's predecessor in 1999 for $345 million. - ViaPath Technologies [organization]: Second-largest prison telecom provider in U.S. Formerly Global Tel*Link (GTL); rebranded 2022. Owned by American Securities. Reported $654M revenue in 2019. Faces $1.4B in debt maturities starting 2025. Ordered to pay $3M for consumer protection violations and agreed to $21.3M HRDC settlement in 2025. (aka: GTL, Global Tel*Link, Global Tel Link) - Vinod Khosla [person]: Venture capitalist; funder of Ameelio nonprofit prison telecom provider. - Worth Rises [organization]: Leading national advocacy organization on prison telecom exploitation. Executive Director: Bianca Tylek. Credited with 'toxifying' the industry, engaging credit rating agencies, blocking a Securus/ICSolutions merger (2018), and pressuring PA pension to decline Securus investment (2023). SOURCES (26) ---------------------------------------- - About Us, Ameelio, Ameelio [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.ameelio.org/about-us - Ameelio homepage, Ameelio [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.ameelio.org/ - Aventiv portfolio page, Platinum Equity, Platinum Equity [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.platinumequity.com/our-company/aventiv/ - Aventiv Technologies Reaches Agreement with Key Financial Stakeholders, PR Newswire / Aventiv Technologies (2025-04-16) [press_release, primary] URL: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aventiv-technologies-reaches-agreement-with-key-financial-stakeholders-to-recapitalize-the-company-and-position-it-for-future-growth-302430600.html - Bowing to pressure from jails and companies, FCC raises phone rate caps, Prison Policy Initiative (2025-10-30) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2025/10/30/fcc-new-caps/ - Contact an Offender, Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] URL: https://gdc.georgia.gov/offender-info/contact-offender - Covid's over but county jails still profit from virtual communication, The Current (Coastal Georgia) (2023-04-14) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://thecurrentga.org/2023/04/14/covids-over-but-county-jails-still-profit-from-virtual-communication/ - Facing Bankruptcy, Securus Promotes Prison Tablets, Prison Legal News (2024-11-15) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2024/nov/15/facing-bankruptcy-securus-promotes-prison-tablets/ - FCC allows prisons, jails to charge more for phone and video calls, Stateline (2025-11-11) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://stateline.org/2025/11/11/fcc-allows-prisons-jails-to-charge-more-for-phone-and-video-calls/ - FCC Backtracks on 2024 Order to Cut Prison Phone and Video Rates by Half, Prison Legal News (2025-08-01) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2025/aug/1/fcc-backtracks-2024-order-cut-prison-phone-and-video-rates-half/ - FCC postpones its groundbreaking 2024 rules, allowing excessive phone and video rates to continue, Prison Policy Initiative (2025-07-02) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2025/07/02/fcc-reversal/ - FCC Raises Phone Rate Caps, Increasing Burden on Poor Families, Equal Justice Initiative (2025-10-31) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://eji.org/news/fcc-raises-phone-rate-caps-increasing-burden-on-poor-families/ - First Circuit Rejects Request by Securus and Pay Tel to Stay FCC Prison Phone Rate Caps, Prison Legal News (2025-01-15) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2025/jan/15/first-circuit-rejects-request-securus-and-pay-tel-stay-fcc-prison-phone-rate-caps/ - Georgia Prisoners May Lose Critical Lifelines as Telecom Rates Targeted, Shadowproof (2023-02-01) [journalism, secondary] - Georgia State Prison phone rates and kickbacks, Prison Phone Justice [data_portal, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonphonejustice.org/state/GA/ - GTL, Co-Defendant Agree to $21.3 Million Settlement with HRDC in Price-Fixing Lawsuit, Prison Legal News (2025-04-01) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2025/apr/1/gtl-co-defendant-agree-213-million-settlement-hrdc-price-fixing-lawsuit/ - GTL/ViaPath Ordered to Pay $3 Million for Violations of Consumer Protection Laws, Prison Legal News (2025-06-01) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2025/jun/1/gtlviapath-ordered-pay-3-million-violations-consumer-protection-laws/ - Pay-for-Play Tablets: The Costly New Prison Paradigm, Prison Legal News (2025-03-01) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2025/mar/1/pay-play-tablets-costly-new-prison-paradigm/ - Platinum Equity-owned prison telecom company Aventiv defaults, faces uncertain future, Private Equity Stakeholder Project (2024-04-22) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://pestakeholder.org/news/platinum-equity-owned-prison-telecom-company-aventiv-defaults-faces-uncertain-future/ - Platinum Equity's Aventiv announces distressed debt exchange months after FCC regulations take effect, Private Equity Stakeholder Project (2025-06-12) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://pestakeholder.org/news/platinum-equitys-aventiv-announces-distressed-debt-exchange-months-after-fcc-regulations-take-effect/ - Platinum-Backed Aventiv Mulls Bankruptcy as Sale Date Ends, Bloomberg Law (2025-01-08) [journalism, primary] URL: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/platinum-backed-aventiv-mulls-bankruptcy-as-sale-deadline-passes - Saying 'I Love You' Shouldn't Cost A Thing, Ben & Jerry's (2023-12-01) [journalism, tertiary] URL: https://www.benjerry.com/whats-new/2023/12/prison-phone-calls - State of Phone Justice, Prison Policy Initiative (2019-02-01) [academic, primary] URL: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/phones/state_of_phone_justice.html - The FCC Capped Rates on Prison Phone Calls, Here's What Needs to Happen Next, EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center) (2024-01-01) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://epic.org/the-fcc-capped-rates-on-prison-phone-calls-heres-what-needs-to-happen-next/ - The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over, Worth Rises / The Appeal (2024-11-12) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://worthrises.org/blogpost/2024/11/12/the-prison-telecom-free-for-all-is-over - UCC Media Justice Guide to the FCC's New Rules on Prison Phone & Video Rates, UCC Media Justice Ministry [official_report, secondary] URL: https://uccmediajustice.org/uccmjm-guide-to-new-prison-phone-video-rates/