FCC ruling to cost jails and prisons money

(AREA) — Officials report that the Federal Communications Commission has agreed to slash how much money companies can charge for phone calls made from jails and prisons. The agency voted last week to cap rates on all local, in-state long distance, interstate, and international calls. The changes go further than restrictions adopted 2-years ago that limited rates on inmate calls from one state to another. According to Undersheriff Glen Skrent, the ruling will cost Tuscola County thousands of dollars. He added that it takes millions of dollars to run a jail and the money coming back from the inmate phones helps to cover just a bit of the expense. Some people are also concerned the FCC is overstepping their authority since these are local calls in question, not long distance.