Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay 

July 1, 2025 - WASHINGTON - On Monday, FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez issued the following statement after FCC leadership overrode a bipartisan Commission vote and halted implementation of the bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Act, which mandates reductions in exorbitant prison phone and video call rates: 

“Today, the FCC made the indefensible decision to ignore both the law and the will of Congress. Last year, this agency agreed on a bipartisan basis to implement the Martha Wright-Reed Act—a bipartisan law that ensures prison communications are priced fairly and no longer exploit incarcerated people and their families. But rather than enforce the law, the Commission is now stalling, shielding a broken system that inflates costs and rewards kickbacks to correctional facilities at the expense of incarcerated individuals and their loved ones. Instead of taking targeted action to address specific concerns, the FCC issued a blanket two-year waiver that undercuts the law’s intent and postpones meaningful relief for millions of families. This is a blatant attempt to sidestep the law, and it will not go unchallenged in court.” 

“Sadly, the real cost of this delay will be felt far beyond Washington. We cannot ignore the fact that the burden of inaction falls squarely on the shoulders of families. One in three families go into debt just to afford phone calls and visits with loved ones behind bars. These are parents, grandparents, siblings, and children doing everything they can to stay connected. That connection isn’t just a lifeline, it’s a proven tool for reducing recidivism, strengthening communities, and improving public safety. When we allow the system to sever those ties, we all pay the price. 

“It’s time for the FCC to do its job. Its responsibility is not to protect profit-driven contracts—it is to uphold the law and serve the public. That means enforcing just and reasonable rates, not delaying justice. It means putting people over profits. And it means honoring the promise Congress made when it passed the Martha Wright-Reed Act—to ensure no family is priced out of staying connected.” 
Source: FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez