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FCC Puts IPCS Rule Changes on Pause

News Date

What Sheriffs Need to Know: In a move to safeguard communications access and facility security, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a temporary waiver delaying implementation of its 2024 Incarcerated People’s Communications Services (IPCS) Order. The decision, announced June 30, offers jails and correctional facilities nationwide time to address compliance challenges and maintain critical services.

The 2024 IPCS Order, part of the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, sought to regulate high communications costs for incarcerated individuals by capping rates and altering site commission structures. New data shows that many jails were poised to scale back or even eliminate services entirely due to funding gaps and concerns over public safety protocols.

What the Waiver Does:  The waiver pushes the compliance deadline to April 1, 2027, reinstating the 2021 rate caps and policies in the interim. This action reflects growing concerns that implementing the 2024 rules left facilities unable to adapt without jeopardizing services.

CTAS Recommendations:  Sheriffs now have breathing room and a responsibility. This waiver gives an opportunity to assess communication systems, reexamine vendor agreements, and ensure readiness for eventual regulatory changes.