Inmate Calling Service
Inmate Calling Service (ICS) is the industry term for the telephone service provided to correctional facilities for inmate-initiated outgoing calls. ICS providers hold exclusive contracts with facilities and are regulated by the FCC. Major ICS providers include Securus Technologies, GTL ViaPath, and ICSolutions. The FCC has jurisdiction over interstate ICS rates and has implemented rate caps effective April 2026.
What Is Inmate Calling Service?
The Inmate Calling Service industry has historically been characterized by very high per-minute rates due to exclusive contracts and the captive nature of the market. The FCC began regulating ICS rates in 2013 following advocacy by families and reform organizations.
ICS providers pay commissions to correctional facilities in exchange for exclusive contracts, which has been identified as a contributor to high rates. The FCC 2025 interim rules capped rates at $0.11 per minute for large prisons and jails. Additional FCC rulemaking is ongoing to set permanent rate caps.
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FCC Rate Cap
FCC rate caps are federal limits set by the Federal Communications Commission on how much correctional facilities and their contracted phone providers can charge per minute for inmate phone calls. Under rules effective April 6, 2026, the cap is $0.11 per minute for large prisons and jails, up to $0.18 per minute for the smallest facilities. Video call caps are $0.23 per minute at large facilities.
CommunicationInmate Phone Calls
Inmate phone calls are outgoing calls placed by an incarcerated person from a facility phone system to approved contacts, using a prepaid account managed through a contracted provider such as ConnectNetwork or GettingOut.
CommunicationCollect Call
A collect call is a telephone call where the charges are billed to the person receiving the call rather than the person placing it.
CommunicationAdvancePay
AdvancePay is a prepaid collect calling service offered by GTL through ConnectNetwork that allows family members to fund a calling account linked to their phone number so an inmate can call them.
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What is FCC Rate Cap?
FCC rate caps are federal limits set by the Federal Communications Commission on how much correctional facilities and their contracted phone providers can charge per minute for inmate phone calls. Under rules effective April 6, 2026, the cap is $0.11 per minute for large prisons and jails, up to $0.18 per minute for the smallest facilities. Video call caps are $0.23 per minute at large facilities.
Read full definitionWhat is Inmate Phone Calls?
Inmate phone calls are outgoing calls placed by an incarcerated person from a facility phone system to approved contacts, using a prepaid account managed through a contracted provider such as ConnectNetwork or GettingOut.
Read full definitionWhat is Collect Call?
A collect call is a telephone call where the charges are billed to the person receiving the call rather than the person placing it.
Read full definitionWhat is AdvancePay?
AdvancePay is a prepaid collect calling service offered by GTL through ConnectNetwork that allows family members to fund a calling account linked to their phone number so an inmate can call them.
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