Sheriff: FCC cap on inmate call rates will cut jail revenue nearly in half

The sheriff’s office told Bradley County commissioners that a Federal Communications Commission rule known as the Martha Wright Read Act will sharply reduce revenue the jail had counted on from inmate phone and video services.

"The Martha Wright Read Act is something that, was passed 2 years ago where the Federal Communications Commission ... has mandated what jails and and prisons across The United States can charge for these inmate services such as phones and video calls," said Wayne, a sheriff’s office staff member explaining the change. Wayne said per-minute caps will cut phone rates from 21¢ to 12¢ and video from 35¢ to 19¢.

That change shrinks projected inmate-telephone revenue for the coming fiscal year from about $365,000 under the old rates to roughly $167,000 under the new caps, Wayne said. The sheriff’s office told commissioners it has tried to offset the shortfall by increasing prices for premium tablet services such as rented movies and music, but emphasized there is limited upside once per-minute caps are in place.

Commissioners pressed the sheriff on other revenue sources and contract terms. The sheriff said the effect is already in the current budget year — the lower rates went into effect April 1 — and called the federal rule an "indirect" unfunded mandate for the county. "We depend on net revenue," the sheriff said, while also acknowledging the county must comply with the FCC’s mandated rates.

County leaders also asked whether the office could renegotiate other federal housing contracts after changes in population and staffing. The sheriff said his office has previously renegotiated federal contracts but that the process is lengthy and often requires months to complete.

Why it matters: the reduction eliminates nearly half of the income the sheriff’s office expected from phone and video services, increasing pressure on the county’s property-tax–funded share of jail costs and on budget choices such as staffing, equipment purchases and contract awards. Commissioners asked staff to factor the reduction into their upcoming budget decisions and to continue exploring offsets where legally permissible.

The commission’s review will continue in a second round of questions and later budget sessions; the sheriff said staff will bring contract and revenue details to help commissioners weigh options.