How GTL Works: Complete Guide to ViaPath Technologies for Families

GTL (Global Tel Link) is the company that holds facility contracts and provides the underlying communication infrastructure at prisons and jails. ConnectNetwork is the consumer brand - the website and app that families use to access GTL services. When you sign up for ConnectNetwork, you are using GTL infrastructure.

GTL is part of ViaPath Technologies, a company formed from GTL and Telmate. ViaPath also operates GettingOut, another consumer platform used primarily at county jails. If your loved one is in a county jail, they may be on GettingOut rather than ConnectNetwork even though both are ultimately GTL services.

For most families, the practical starting point is the ConnectNetwork website at connectnetwork.com or the ConnectNetwork app. This is where you create your account, fund phone calls, schedule video visits, and manage money transfers for GTL-served facilities.

GTL serves over 800 facilities across 30 states through its ConnectNetwork platform. GTL holds contracts at state prison systems and county jails. Because GTL often wins large state-level contracts, their services can cover an entire state prison system under one agreement.

GTL also operates the federal Bureau of Prisons phone and video infrastructure at many federal facilities. ConnectNetwork handles phone calls and video visits at many BOP institutions, though electronic messaging at federal facilities always goes through CorrLinks regardless of which phone provider is used.

To find out if your loved one facility uses GTL, search our facility directory. You can also visit connectnetwork.com and search for the facility name directly.

Go to connectnetwork.com and click create account. Enter your full name, email address, and phone number and create a password. Account creation is free. Verify your account through the confirmation email that is sent to you.

After logging in, add your loved one facility and search for them by name or inmate ID number. Once added, your dashboard will show the services available at their specific facility. Services that appear on your dashboard are the ones contracted at that location.

Download the free ConnectNetwork app for iOS or Android to manage your account from your smartphone. The app allows you to fund phone accounts, schedule video visits, and receive notifications when your balance is low.

GTL phone calls work through the AdvancePay prepaid system on ConnectNetwork. You deposit money in advance and funds are deducted each time the inmate calls your registered phone number. You cannot call the inmate - all calls must be initiated by the inmate from a facility phone.

To receive calls, register your phone number in your ConnectNetwork account and add funds to your AdvancePay balance. When the inmate calls, the call connects automatically and the per-minute rate is deducted from your balance. Set up automatic refills to ensure your balance never runs out.

GTL phone rates for interstate calls are regulated by the FCC. The maximum rate is $0.11 per minute under current FCC rules in effect as of 2026 (raised from the original 2024 cap of $0.06 per minute) for prisons and $0.11 per minute for large jails under current rules. In-state rates vary. Check your ConnectNetwork account for the specific rate that applies to your facility.

Video visits through GTL are scheduled through your ConnectNetwork account. Log in, go to the video visits section, and select an available date and time. Pay for the session and receive a confirmation. At the scheduled time, join through the ConnectNetwork website or app.

You need a device with a camera and microphone and a stable internet connection. Test your camera and microphone before the visit. Sessions are typically 20 to 30 minutes and end automatically when the time limit is reached.

Video visit costs vary by facility but typically range from $7.50 to $15 per session. All visits are recorded and monitored. Follow the same content rules that apply to phone calls.

GTL ViaPath Technologies lost its California CDCR contract to Securus Technologies in February 2025 following a court ruling that vacated the prior ViaPath contract. California had been one of ViaPath's largest state contracts. The transition from ViaPath to Securus at California institutions began in September 2025 and continued through spring 2026. California families whose loved ones have transitioned to Securus must now create Securus accounts and can no longer use ConnectNetwork for those facilities.

During the California transition, ViaPath maintained an emergency interim agreement with CDCR to prevent service gaps. Families were advised to check the CDCR website for the transition schedule by facility before switching to Securus accounts. If a loved one was transferred to a facility still on ViaPath during the transition, families needed to continue using ConnectNetwork until that facility also completed its switch.

ViaPath content including messages, photos, and media did not transfer to Securus tablets. California families who had years of digital communication history stored on ViaPath tablets lost access to that content permanently after their institution's transition date. CDCR stated that incarcerated individuals could request their digital content from ViaPath upon release, though this option may not apply to those serving longer terms.

In November 2024, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered GTL, doing business as ViaPath Technologies, to pay $3 million in restitution and penalties for violations of consumer protection laws. The CFPB identified three specific practices that violated consumer protection laws.

The first violation was a no-refund policy for most money transfers. When money transfers went wrong, families were forced to file chargebacks with their banks or credit card companies rather than receiving direct refunds from GTL. The second violation involved unclear and deceptive fee disclosures that made it difficult for consumers to understand what they were being charged. The third violation involved specific practices related to how funds were handled when accounts were closed or transfers failed.

The CFPB enforcement capacity has been significantly reduced since early 2025 following staff reductions. It remains to be seen how effectively the agency can enforce this order. Families who experienced problems with GTL money transfers should document all transactions and contact GTL customer service directly. If GTL does not resolve the issue, file a complaint with your state attorney general consumer protection office as state-level enforcement remains active.

New Jersey began transitioning its state prisons from JPay to ViaPath tablets in 2025. Three facilities including Bayside State Prison in Leesburg, Mid State Correctional Facility in Wrightstown, and Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Clinton completed their transitions first. Six additional facilities were expected to receive ViaPath tablets by end of July 2026. The NJ DOC Commissioner noted some technical glitches in initial rollouts and stated the department was proceeding carefully before expanding to larger facilities.

New Jersey maintained contracts with both JPay and ViaPath simultaneously during the transition period. The JPay contract was extended through July 31, 2026, and the ViaPath contract runs through December 31, 2028. Families with loved ones at facilities that have transitioned to ViaPath must use ConnectNetwork for messaging and money transfers. Families at facilities still on JPay continue to use JPay until their facility transitions.

A civil rights lawsuit was filed in July 2026 challenging the New Jersey transition from JPay to ViaPath. Incarcerated people in the lawsuit argued they were led to believe content purchased on JPay tablets would remain accessible and that the switch resulted in significant cost increases. The Marshall Project reported on how incarcerated people become the unwilling consumers of a billion-dollar industry when states switch providers without protecting purchased content or managing transition costs.