Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary Federal Communications Commission 445 12Th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 Re: WC Docket No. 12
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Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 Re: WC Docket No. 12-375 Comments re Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Dear Ms. Dortch, Attached, you will find a list of 20,286 people that have signed a Change.org petition in support of prison phone reform. These supporters believe that recent FCC action to reduce the cost of prison phone calls was a crucial first step towards affordable access for our nation’s inmates, but that meaningful reform cannot be achieved without addressing sheriffs’ commissions. Across the country, sheriffs’ departments exploit loopholes that generate hundreds of millions of dollars in commissions, ultimately taking money from people that can least afford this added cost. Study after study demonstrates that the easier time inmates have remaining connected with the outside world, the greater chance they have of successfully reintegrating into society once they are released. Instead of contributing to this important goal, sheriffs’ departments continue to receive commissions for providing telecommunications services to inmates. They even went so far as to threaten to eliminate this vital service if their commissions are cut. This claim only serves to underscore the need to act. Given the outpouring of public support shown by this Change.org petition, it is clear that the public is tired of an outdated commissions system. The FCC has a clear mandate to act, and should move to eliminate commissions as soon as possible. Sincerely, Robert Raben Executive Director, The Silent Sentence Coalition Petition Text While you pay a relatively fair market price for phone calls, the 1.57 million inmates across the U.S. and their families are forced to pay rates driven by sheriffs in State and Local governments. Subverting market forces, most sheriffs demand a percentage of the revenue generated from prison phone calls. While this cut of revenue was originally intended to cover costs of operation, Sheriffs have been demanding higher and higher percentages every year. In fact, in Arizona, the commission rate recently reached 94 percent of total revenue. These high costs threaten the stability offered to inmates through frequent family phone conversations. These conversations are critical to ensuring inmates build and sustain the necessary support system to avoid incarceration after release. But instead of supporting inmates and their families, sheriff’s departments are making money at their expense. The FCC has recently decided to cap interstate phone rates and is considering regulating commissions, but they need to know that people like you are appalled by the behavior of our nation’s sheriffs. Please sign this petition and visit http://silentsentence.com/about to learn more about this extremely important issue. Signees 1. Courtney York, North Carolina 20. Rey Ramirez, Pennsylvania 2. Alexander Kunst, Pennsylvania 21. Pamela Harris, Virginia 3. Thelma Theis, Ohio 22. A Bell, Connecticut 4. danielle frady, Florida 23. Mack Jenkins, Georgia 5. Cynthia Theriault, Maine 24. Davona Rhodes, Minnesota 6. Brady Wycklendt, Wisconsin 25. Olivia Brown, Texas 7. leonardo nunez, California 26. Jan Zollars, North Carolina 8. jat jones, Illinois 27. Sean Watson, Indiana 9. Eileen Quill, Iowa 28. Nina Schwartz, Texas 10. Linda Finch, New Jersey 29. Terry Eaton, Washington 11. Dena Stanley, Georgia 30. Nicole Mantle, California 12. beverly murphy, New York 31. Lisa Hellmann, Kentucky 13. Lenore Puuohau-Pummill, Hawaii 32. Dorothy Parker, Wyoming 14. carla davis, Florida 33. mrs willilams, Maryland 15. Russell Grieshaber, Illinois 34. Attila gero, California 16. Arthur Burzykowski, Illinois 35. katoria harris, Maryland 17. Anna Carrillo, California 36. Don Swanbeck, Massachusetts 18. Diane Myers, Arizona 37. James Utz, Washington 19. Channing Jones, Texas 38. Linda Summitt, Indiana 39. Tina Johnson, California 88. LISA ROBIE, California 40. Richard Lamb, Minnesota 89. charles sexton, Oregon 41. Donald Cramer, Ohio 90. Debbie David, New York 42. Josephine Shelly, Michigan 91. Jacqueline Tulli, Colorado 43. James Frazier, Florida 92. Lisa booker, Wisconsin 44. patti CORDER, Illinois 93. Michael Campbell, North Carolina 45. Delwin Goss, Texas 94. Chrystal Broome, South Carolina 46. Warren Coon, Michigan 95. Line Farah Charles, Massachusetts 47. Victoria Cooper, New Jersey 96. Amanda O'Keefe, California 48. Alan Gerber, Florida 97. Jorge Guevara, North Carolina 49. Clinton Cox, Ohio 98. mary palomares, California 50. John Wienert, Georgia 99. David Schachne, New York 51. Hillary Thomas, Kansas 100. QZ Smith, Indiana 52. Dannielle Unaji, Texas 101. betty tansill, Virginia 53. January Lashley, North Carolina 102. fran mcdonald, Texas 54. Dana Seilhan, Ohio 103. Adeola Davis, Tennessee 55. Tyler Heard, Michigan 104. Michele Corum, New Jersey 56. Steven Serikaku, Illinois 105. Auzannette Harrell, Mississippi 57. m mck, Washington 106. Will Racanelli, California 58. Irene Shemaria, New York 107. Adam Whitsel, Pennsylvania 59. Tara Taylor, Florida 108. Barbara Martin, Oregon 60. Diane Hanson, California 109. Cathy Winsor, Virginia 61. sonja davis, New Jersey 110. Bethany Wolverton, Missouri 62. Kara Peterson, District of Columbia 111. claudia bechet, Georgia 63. Samantha Morales, Florida 112. Eva Lester, Washington 64. stephen hambrick, Virginia 113. renee feeley, Massachusetts 65. David Chung, Alabama 114. stacy perrizo, Minnesota 66. Mecolla Davenport, North Carolina 115. Dr. Stephen Uhl, Arizona 67. Raymond Thomas, New Mexico 116. Gerri Perry, Virginia 68. Allan Biggs, Virginia 117. Linda Basinger, Idaho 69. Rebekah Culbertson, Texas 118. Patricia Andrade, New Jersey 70. Laureana Boado, Texas 119. ANsar Muhammad, Oregon 71. ashley Rodriguez, New Jersey 120. Rebecca Mitchell, Texas 72. Ashley metz, Florida 121. Miranda Alicea, New York 73. Liela Abass, Michigan 122. Jean Aldridge, Oregon 74. Ben Owen, California 123. LYNN PERRAUD, Idaho 75. Barbara MacLennan, Nebraska 124. Aarika Robinson, Ohio 76. Rhian Morris, California 125. Thomas McIntyre, New York 77. nancy millar, Georgia 126. Maryann Mendoza, Tennessee 78. Carolyn Miller, Texas 127. tyler white, North Carolina 79. Holly Allen, California 128. Beth Norwood, Alabama 80. Ingrid Reis, Wisconsin 129. Carol Gray, Indiana 81. Judy Begin, Michigan 130. Jesus Gusman, Texas 82. Mia Fiore, Illinois 131. GLEN PANNKUK, Iowa 83. anna dempsey, New York 132. Joan Little, Indiana 84. Stephen Childers, California 133. Chad Urvig, Minnesota 85. Leo Sharxhi, Illinois 134. Berlinda Rogers, North Carolina 86. Connie Dudgeon, Colorado 135. Jeff Lovell, California 87. Keeyawna Barnes, Florida 136. Steve Serafino, California 137. D Lavelda Davis, New York 186. Gary Walters, New York 138. Diane Jones, New York 187. SALVATORE CENTO, New York 139. Michael Mikolajczyk, Illinois 188. Connor O'Neill, Illinois 140. Jon Beasley, Michigan 189. Wayne Goldsboro, New Jersey 141. Ruvita Maharaj, California 190. Alex Thompson-Bocek, New York 142. Trung Le, Minnesota 191. Ailee Hansen, Michigan 143. Judy Lourash, Illinois 192. Edwin Mcgrath, Pennsylvania 144. marco rodriguez, Texas 193. Jacobo Chavez, Texas 145. katherine carson, Illinois 194. Anthony Rodriguez, New York 146. merrill kramer, Florida 195. Aaron Kapp, Wisconsin 147. Holly Tetreault, Massachusetts 196. Octavio Casillas, New Mexico 148. Jennifer Petersen, California 197. carmen castillo, Puerto Rico 149. Diana Ashbrook, Iowa 198. Christine Della Cioppa, California 150. Mattie Smith, Georgia 199. Giacomo Tiznado Tiznado, Texas 151. Jennifer Specht, Wisconsin 200. mark offerman, New York 152. Brian & Deana Daeley, California 201. Alexander Mansfield, West Virginia 153. Jon Buchheim, Florida 202. Nicki Smith, Virginia 154. tiffany myers, Colorado 203. Melissa aguilar, Idaho 155. Stephen Schwartz, Pennsylvania 204. mike ingram, Oregon 156. Gabrielle Armstrong, Texas 205. Deborah Cantellops, Puerto Rico 157. Khursh Mian, New York 206. Don Carrie, California 158. William Parker, Arizona 207. KL Boucher, California 159. Cecilia Colesanti, New York 208. Jesus Febo, 160. Patty Peterson, Missouri 209. Wayne Bentley, Florida 161. Nathaniel Stetson, Massachusetts 210. betzaida llompart, 162. Demian Rubalcaba, New Mexico 211. Wendy Arias, Massachusetts 163. Kurt Seamans, Nevada 212. David Newgent, Oklahoma 164. Lorelei Hardison, Florida 213. Grace H, California 165. RENEE CALPIN, Massachusetts 214. kathleen clarke, Florida 166. Gina Petty, Kentucky 215. Yamira Munet, 167. Aaron Walsh, New York 216. Gloria Anderson, Texas 168. Dennis Atterberry, Michigan 217. kathy buehrle, Pennsylvania 169. Jennifer Bellofatto, New Jersey 218. jim spinella, Texas 170. Brenda McCarthy, New York 219. Ben Baldassare, Montana 171. Donna Cannon, Michigan 220. Heather Ivey, Missouri 172. P Bowen, Texas 221. Zac Lyons, Minnesota 173. Candice Clark, Pennsylvania 222. Enrique Ramirez, California 174. Hester Craig, South Carolina 223. Hector Quiles, Florida 175. GRADY JAMES PADGETT, California 224. Suzanne Barnes, Illinois 176. dan koff, California 225. cristina colunga, Illinois 177. Jennifer La Due, Washington 226. Michael Knapp, Kansas 178. Rhonda Matthews, California 227. Linda Bachelor, South Carolina 179. Russell Haynes, Texas 228. ray susan, Texas 180. Sarah Hammond, Maryland 229. john disher, Colorado 181. Rebecca Curry, California 230. Joe Miller, Illinois 182. Amador Rivera, Illinois 231. Laura Seesing, Montana 183. Pamela DeWolf, Minnesota 232. maria medina, Puerto Rico 184. Anita Curtis, Texas 233. vilma Gracia,