Data Privacy & Tech

FCC Seeks Input on 2026 Data Collection for Incarcerated People’s Communications Services

🇺🇸United States··Proposed Rule·Medium Impact·View source ↗

AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.

🇬🇧 English

The proposal would shape how the FCC collects cost, usage, and service information from providers of communications services used by incarcerated people. The goal is to gather enough data to set permanent caps on audio and video communication rates while reducing unnecessary reporting burdens where possible. Providers of incarcerated people’s communications services, correctional facilities, advocacy groups, families of incarcerated people, and state or local authorities may want to comment. Comments are due July 17, 2026, and reply comments are due August 3, 2026.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.

Key Changes

  • Seeks public comment on the FCC’s proposed 2026 mandatory data collection for incarcerated people’s communications services
  • Aims to collect data needed to set permanent rate caps for audio and video communications
  • Asks how the FCC can adjust reporting requirements to reduce burdens on service providers where practical

Obligations

What this law requires

medium

Interested parties filing comments or reply comments must refer to WC Docket Nos. 23-62 and 12-375 in all filings.

interested parties filing FCC comments or reply comments
Comments due July 17, 2026; reply comments due August 3, 2026
reporting
low

Parties filing paper comments must file an original and one copy of each filing.

parties choosing to file FCC comments by paper
Comments due July 17, 2026; reply comments due August 3, 2026
reporting
low

Paper filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

parties choosing to file FCC comments by paper
Comments due July 17, 2026; reply comments due August 3, 2026
reporting
low

Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the FCC Secretary must be delivered during the accepted window of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the FCC mailing contractor location identified in the notice.

parties hand-delivering or messenger-delivering FCC paper filings
Comments due July 17, 2026; reply comments due August 3, 2026
operational

Affected Parties

Providers of incarcerated people’s communications servicesCorrectional facilities and government agencies+2 more…

Tags

FCC,telecom,incarcerated communications