FCC MAY REVEIW RCF NUMBERS

golf_buddy · #1 01-22-2003, 12:50 AM

Many people have been using remote phone numbers (RCF) to save money on their collect calls for years. Since this concept does save families substantially on their collect calls it has grown in popularity. As it has grown in popularity it has also drawn the attention of the State DOCs and the prison pay phone operators like MCI, AT&T, T-Netix and Sprint.

I hope everyone reading this realizes that most every state requires a kick back of approximately 50% of all the revenue generated by the phones. So now these pay phone operators are now telling the State DOCs that their revenue is down because of all the remote lines. It couldn't be because they have raised prices so high that most people can not afford to accept many calls any longer because they are phone poor.

Now that the revenue for both is declining. They are both scrambling to reverse the trend. Unfortunately they are many times resulting to tactics which are not only immoral but in some cases illegal. I have heard of cases where prison officials have put up memos saying that calling a remote line is illegal and in some cases they have even threatened inmates with disciplinary action if they call a remote number. I have also heard that the pay phone providers are blocking access to the remote numbers. All these tactics are wrong and illegal.

Owning a remote number is your choice and allowing the prisoner to call you on your number is their obligation (as long as you are an approved person for him to call). Blocking access to your remote line, whether by intimadtion or actual, is restrain of trade and illegal.

The FCC has been asked to reveiw this issue but in order to do that they must feel confident that these tactics are going on. We need your help. If you have used a remote line and had any problem with the prison or the pay phone provider in the prison the FCC wants to hear from you. In your letter tell them what the prison or the pay phone operator did and tell them why having the remote line was important to you and the prisoner.

Please direct your letters to:

Tele-Net, Inc.
PO Box 620909
Oviedo, FL 32762-0909

Remember the righteous will prevail.

TxRenee · #2 01-22-2003, 02:26 AM

Oh man Richard, :knocking on wood and crossing all fingers: I haven't had any problems so far. Now Tony is being moved soon and I will be contacting you when we find out where he will be moved too. I pray there are no problems!!

mjwyogini · #3 01-22-2003, 12:16 PM

That is great. I just signed up with tele net. I read one post on 'what's up with Virginia' thread, and it said something about a woman's and her husband's visits getting revoked for 3 months, because he went against the policy which states the phone line needs to be connected to a physical address. I was told by tele net that they have several customers who have their service at the same prison I am going to be using it, with no problems. I hope this is right. I need this desperately! I have an almost 1000.00 dollar phone bill for a month and a half! But I can't let that stop me from talking to my loved one. It is vital, these phone calls! But it still instills fear into me! ( mean getting the new service with tele net)

Marsha.

TxRenee · #4 01-22-2003, 12:24 PM

Marsha,
I KNOW that this is not against the law.....NOW I would not ever run to the prison and tell them exactly what I was doing.
But then who would do this? I got my phone bill for this month and it is 70.00 total. I can live with that I can't with 300 or more.
Good Luck enjoy

golf_buddy · #5 01-22-2003, 12:40 PM

Marsha, I do not want you to think that you are doing anything wrong because you are not. But because of the prison's intimidation tactics we do recommend that you maintain a low profile when using the Tele-Net service. Do not talk about it on the phone and do not discuss it with the prison officials. If there is a problem call Tele-Net first. If the prisoner must put the number on a list and it requires an address, call Tele-Net and we will get you the address (all of our numnbers do have a physical address). The key is to communicate with us.

God Bless you all

lulu · #6 01-22-2003, 12:48 PM

I was fixing to say the same t hing. If it is illegal then how come they allow others to use it? That is a scary thought. '

mjwyogini · #7 01-22-2003, 05:25 PM

Thank you Richard. When I first heard of this service, I knew I could not write to my fiance or even talk about it on the phone. I had to wait to tell him in person, and even then, at a very low key conversation. I didn't want to take any chances. I think it should be ok, since I was told that there are several customers at Lunenburg and no one has had problems. Thanks again! i appreciate it.
Marsha

mjwyogini · #8 01-22-2003, 05:27 PM

Thanks TxRenee for telling me this. The support helps! You see, my fiance is getting out in about a year, so I want to make sure we are clean and sober, if you know what I mean. I don't want to do anything to jeopordize anything! It's not worth it. With that amount of time left, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Marsha