The Bergen Record reported today on the impact of the FCC’s Order lowering interstate phone rates from New Jersey prisons and county jails. The Record reports that Global Tel*Link offered Bergen County the opportunity to negotiate increases on other rates and fees to make up for the losses on interstate calls. The story featured quotes from Karina Wilkinson and Pauline Ndzie, members of the campaign for prison phone justice, and emphasized the hardship caused by exorbitant phone rates. Read the full article here.

As of March 4, 2014 the New Jersey Department of Corrections extended its contract for prison phone services with Global Tel*Link for an additional six months (until September 3, 2014). It also lowered the rate for all phone calls to 17 cents per minute during that period. This decrease is great news, but the rate should go even lower! At the same time, intrastate rates and commissions in county jails remain high.

The contract extension is available here.