Consolidated Footnotes – Charts A to D
1 Alaska provides free local calls, plus free calls to the state’s Public Defender Agency, Office of Public Advocacy and Ombudsman’s Office. First-minute rates for intrastate calls range from $.17 to $.60, with subsequent minutes as indicated in Chart B.
2 Illinois’ ICS contract changed to Securus in late 2012; the charts reflect current (2013) rates. The state’s prior contract was with Consolidated Communications Public Services (CCPS). Illinois’ contract with Securus initially had a commission rate of 87.1%, later reduced to 76%; the commission amounts in Chart D are pursuant to the state’s prior contract with CCPS, which had a commission rate of 56%.
3 Iowa only allows debit calls, with a maximum charge of $9.00 for interstate calls and $7.40 for intrastate calls. The Iowa DOC’s phone service is provided through the Iowa Communications Network (ICN), a state government agency, and PCS/GTL. The state does not receive a commission but rather retains all revenue in excess of the cost of providing prison phone services, which is termed “revenue” or “rebates.”
4 Maryland’s ICS contract changed to GTL in early 2013; the charts reflect current (2013) rates. The commission rate in Chart D (65-87%) is based on documents provided by the MD DOC; the commission for debit/prepaid calls is 65% and the commission for collect calls is 87%. The MD DOC’s previous ICS contract with Securus had a commission rate of 48-60%.
5 In North Dakota, the rates are $.30 for the first minute then $.24/min. thereafter for collect and prepaid interstate and intrastate calls (plus the connection/per-call charge).
6 Phone rates were obtained from the BOP and from a 2011 report by the General Accountability Office: “Bureau of Prisons: Improved Evaluations and Increased Coordination Could Improve Cell Phone Detection,” GAO-11-893 (Sept. 2011).
7 Rates are based on a 2011 email from the Hawaii Department of Public Safety, which confirmed on November 20, 2013 that those rates are still in effect.
8 Under New Hampshire’s ICS contract, the first 5 minutes of local calls (all types) do not incur per-minute charges, though the connection/per-call charge applies. The state receives flat commission payments on a monthly basis ($27,000 per month beginning in September 2012).
9 The Alabama DOC receives a “per diem” commission; commission payments are calculated based on a per diem rate multiplied by the average prisoner population, per month. Under the state’s 2012 contract with CenturyLink, the per diem rate is $.572.
10 California phased out commissions in 2011, but the California Technology Agency receives an $800,000 annual fee from GTL, plus GTL provides cell phone detection technology at California state prisons at no cost.
11 The FY 2009 and FY 2010 commission amounts for Delaware include combined commission payments for ICS and public payphone services. The state’s ICS contract specifies a declining commission rate of 50% in FY 2010 and 2011, 40% in FY 2012 and 30% in FY 2013.
12 Idaho receives a commission of $2.25 per debit call, $2.00 per prepaid collect call and $1.75 per collect call. Community Work Centers have a 20% commission.
13 Kansas receives a minimum guaranteed annual commission of $2.36 million plus a “signing bonus” of $250,000 pursuant to its 2013 ICS contract. The commission amounts are from the state’s prior ICS contract, which had a commission of 41.3%.
14 In addition to the commission amounts, Kentucky receives an $80,000 annual technology grant from Securus.
15 Under a contract with PCS/GTL that expired in early 2013, Maine received a 60% commission on collect and prepaid calls plus a 100% commission on debit calls. The Maine DOC currently uses an in-house debit calling system with no collect calls.
16 Montana receives minimum monthly commission payments of $23,000 or 25% of ICS revenue, whichever is greater.
17 Ohio receives a flat annual commission of $15 million under a contract that began in 2010. The commission amount for 2009 reflects 11 monthly deposits under the prior contract, while 2010 reflects 14 monthly deposits under both the prior and current contract.
18 Oklahoma receives a flat commission of $2.30 per call, which equates to a 76.6% commission based on the state’s flat ICS rate of $3.00 per call.
19 Oregon receives a base annual commission of $3 million, paid quarterly, plus “an additional commission ... of 50% of quarterly gross revenue on all Contractor provided inmate telephone equipment and of quarterly profits on all Enhanced Services over $1.5 million.”
20 South Dakota receives a 38% commission on collect and prepaid local and intraLATA calls, 33% on collect and prepaid interLATA and interstate calls, and $1.00 commission per debit call (all call types).
21 In addition to ICS commissions, Utah receives a quarterly administrative fee in “an amount equal to 1% of the net sales ... under this Contract for the period.” Utah DOC halfway houses that use coin payphones have a 45% commission rate.
22 In addition to ICS commissions, GTL pays Virginia a minimum $150,000 annual fee “towards DOC technology initiatives,” and such fees increase if GTL receives annual ICS revenue that exceeds $13 million.
23 Washington receives a 51% commission with a minimum annual payment of $5.1 million. The amounts in Chart D reflect the minimum commissions received by the state; actual amounts may be higher.
For all charts: ICS rates and providers may have changed since this data was compiled by Prison Legal News in 2012-2013. Securus rates were checked with the online Securus rate calculator (https://securustech.net/call-rate-calculator); CenturyLink rates were checked on the company’s website: (http://qwest.centurylink.com/corrections). Data in the charts was obtained from corrections agencies via public records requests or their websites, or from ICS providers; most source documents are posted on www.prisonphonejustice.org.
2 Illinois’ ICS contract changed to Securus in late 2012; the charts reflect current (2013) rates. The state’s prior contract was with Consolidated Communications Public Services (CCPS). Illinois’ contract with Securus initially had a commission rate of 87.1%, later reduced to 76%; the commission amounts in Chart D are pursuant to the state’s prior contract with CCPS, which had a commission rate of 56%.
3 Iowa only allows debit calls, with a maximum charge of $9.00 for interstate calls and $7.40 for intrastate calls. The Iowa DOC’s phone service is provided through the Iowa Communications Network (ICN), a state government agency, and PCS/GTL. The state does not receive a commission but rather retains all revenue in excess of the cost of providing prison phone services, which is termed “revenue” or “rebates.”
4 Maryland’s ICS contract changed to GTL in early 2013; the charts reflect current (2013) rates. The commission rate in Chart D (65-87%) is based on documents provided by the MD DOC; the commission for debit/prepaid calls is 65% and the commission for collect calls is 87%. The MD DOC’s previous ICS contract with Securus had a commission rate of 48-60%.
5 In North Dakota, the rates are $.30 for the first minute then $.24/min. thereafter for collect and prepaid interstate and intrastate calls (plus the connection/per-call charge).
6 Phone rates were obtained from the BOP and from a 2011 report by the General Accountability Office: “Bureau of Prisons: Improved Evaluations and Increased Coordination Could Improve Cell Phone Detection,” GAO-11-893 (Sept. 2011).
7 Rates are based on a 2011 email from the Hawaii Department of Public Safety, which confirmed on November 20, 2013 that those rates are still in effect.
8 Under New Hampshire’s ICS contract, the first 5 minutes of local calls (all types) do not incur per-minute charges, though the connection/per-call charge applies. The state receives flat commission payments on a monthly basis ($27,000 per month beginning in September 2012).
9 The Alabama DOC receives a “per diem” commission; commission payments are calculated based on a per diem rate multiplied by the average prisoner population, per month. Under the state’s 2012 contract with CenturyLink, the per diem rate is $.572.
10 California phased out commissions in 2011, but the California Technology Agency receives an $800,000 annual fee from GTL, plus GTL provides cell phone detection technology at California state prisons at no cost.
11 The FY 2009 and FY 2010 commission amounts for Delaware include combined commission payments for ICS and public payphone services. The state’s ICS contract specifies a declining commission rate of 50% in FY 2010 and 2011, 40% in FY 2012 and 30% in FY 2013.
12 Idaho receives a commission of $2.25 per debit call, $2.00 per prepaid collect call and $1.75 per collect call. Community Work Centers have a 20% commission.
13 Kansas receives a minimum guaranteed annual commission of $2.36 million plus a “signing bonus” of $250,000 pursuant to its 2013 ICS contract. The commission amounts are from the state’s prior ICS contract, which had a commission of 41.3%.
14 In addition to the commission amounts, Kentucky receives an $80,000 annual technology grant from Securus.
15 Under a contract with PCS/GTL that expired in early 2013, Maine received a 60% commission on collect and prepaid calls plus a 100% commission on debit calls. The Maine DOC currently uses an in-house debit calling system with no collect calls.
16 Montana receives minimum monthly commission payments of $23,000 or 25% of ICS revenue, whichever is greater.
17 Ohio receives a flat annual commission of $15 million under a contract that began in 2010. The commission amount for 2009 reflects 11 monthly deposits under the prior contract, while 2010 reflects 14 monthly deposits under both the prior and current contract.
18 Oklahoma receives a flat commission of $2.30 per call, which equates to a 76.6% commission based on the state’s flat ICS rate of $3.00 per call.
19 Oregon receives a base annual commission of $3 million, paid quarterly, plus “an additional commission ... of 50% of quarterly gross revenue on all Contractor provided inmate telephone equipment and of quarterly profits on all Enhanced Services over $1.5 million.”
20 South Dakota receives a 38% commission on collect and prepaid local and intraLATA calls, 33% on collect and prepaid interLATA and interstate calls, and $1.00 commission per debit call (all call types).
21 In addition to ICS commissions, Utah receives a quarterly administrative fee in “an amount equal to 1% of the net sales ... under this Contract for the period.” Utah DOC halfway houses that use coin payphones have a 45% commission rate.
22 In addition to ICS commissions, GTL pays Virginia a minimum $150,000 annual fee “towards DOC technology initiatives,” and such fees increase if GTL receives annual ICS revenue that exceeds $13 million.
23 Washington receives a 51% commission with a minimum annual payment of $5.1 million. The amounts in Chart D reflect the minimum commissions received by the state; actual amounts may be higher.
For all charts: ICS rates and providers may have changed since this data was compiled by Prison Legal News in 2012-2013. Securus rates were checked with the online Securus rate calculator (https://securustech.net/call-rate-calculator); CenturyLink rates were checked on the company’s website: (http://qwest.centurylink.com/corrections). Data in the charts was obtained from corrections agencies via public records requests or their websites, or from ICS providers; most source documents are posted on www.prisonphonejustice.org.