US Court of Appeals Votes in Favor of Securus and Corrections Industry, FCC Cannot Cap Intrastate Rates

Commissioner Ajit Pai Publicly Rebukes FCC – “Good Government Isn’t Discretionary.” Securus Advocates An FCC/Industry Summit to Discuss Public Policy on Incarcerated Individual Rates and Safety/Security

DALLAS, TX March 25, 2016/PRNewswire/ — Securus Technologies, a leading provider of civil and criminal justice technology solutions for public safety, investigation, corrections and monitoring, announced that it successfully defended its view before the United States Court of Appeals that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could not impose rate caps on intrastate rates. “In the last two (2) weeks, Securus and its competitors have won two (2) key issues that it took to the US Court of Appeals regarding Incarcerated Individual rates,” said Richard A. (“Rick”) Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Securus Technologies. “The first was the granting of a Stay on the majority of the FCC’s decision on Incarcerated Individual Rates and Fees, and the second was the inappropriate extension of interim interstate rates to intrastate rates. Although the legal bar for granting a Stay by the Court is very high, we prevailed on both points. On the second point, I think the FCC had bad legal guidance as they took a que from an outside Incarcerated Individual counsel that was intent on terrorizing our industry. The Court saw through that I believe, which was good for our industry including corrections and law enforcement,” said Smith. “Together, I believe that we can develop the right public policy with respect to Incarcerated Individual communications,” said Smith. “We have debated the balance of safety/security, costs, and jurisdiction with the FCC, the States, and through the courts for sixteen (16) years – and that is far too long. We have asked the FCC to meet with the CEOs in our industry and the States with standing to craft a solution that is good for Incarcerated Individuals, friends and families, victims, witnesses, our industry, and all of society. That is a better process than using the heavy hand of regulation and the Courts to find a future that is fair to all. The FCC is willing to meet with us and that represents progress,” said Smith.