GTL Announces New Rates and Fees for Alabama
Company hopes to reduce confusion among correctional facilities, inmates, and called parties
Reston, Virginia (PRNewsWire) –July 1, 2015 – Global Tel*Link (GTL), the leading provider of correctional technology solutions, announces that it will alter its rates and fees for inmate calling in the state of Alabama to comply with those set by the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) even though it is exempt from implementing the changes by virtue of a pending lawsuit.
“GTL has decided to change its phone rates and fees to those set by the PSC,” said Brian Oliver, CEO of GTL. “We are acting in the interest of increased transparency for consumers, most of whom likely have no knowledge of our pending litigation, and in order to eliminate the confusion this PSC policy will create in the marketplace.”
The PSC ruling and its associated rate changes will take effect on July 1, 2015. The rate changes apply to all Inmate Calling Service (ICS) providers in the state except GTL and another competitor, as both companies have been granted stays pending the outcome of lawsuits that challenge the validity of the PSC’s ruling. GTL’s voluntary rate changes will take effect the same day in order to support sheriffs and minimize confusion among correctional officers, inmates, and inmates’ friends and family.
“While we believe that the Alabama PSC has stepped outside of their purview with this ruling, we are adjusting our rates over concerns about confusion in the marketplace,” Oliver added. “However, we maintain the validity of our legal challenge to this ruling, and we will continue to pursue it in court.”
The Alabama PSC ruling takes effect before changes are issued by the FCC regarding ICS rates and fees throughout the country. The FCC changes are expected to be announced this summer. The Alabama PSC is fully aware of the pending action by the FCC, as it has been an active participant in the FCC proceeding. GTL believes this action by the Alabama PSC now is unnecessary and will result in further confusion for customers, and inmate friends and family members. GTL and other providers explained this important point to the Alabama PSC Staff, but it chose to proceed with the July 1, 2015 effective date anyway.
“The FCC, unlike the Alabama PSC, has thus far taken a market-based approach in analyzing and regulating the ICS industry,” said David Silverman, Executive Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs.
About Global Tel*Link
GTL is the leading provider of integrated correctional technology solutions, delivering financial value, security, and ease of operation to our customers through visionary products and solutions at the forefront of corrections innovation. As a trusted correctional industry leader, GTL provides service to approximately fifty percent of inmates nationwide, including service to 33 state departments of corrections, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 32 of the largest city/county facilities. GTL is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with more than 10 regional offices across the country. To find out more about GTL, please visit our website www.gtl.net.
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Industry Publications
Feature Articles
The July/August 2015 print edition of Corrections Today included a story submitted by the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) about an automated process and system that was put in place to automate inmate requests to staff. The article explains how the request system that was deployed by GTL for SCDC ultimately led to a request fulfillment rate of 97.6%. The digital reprint is available below.
Corrections Today July/August 2015 (.pdf)
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The March/April 2015 print edition of Correctional News included a feature story that covered GTL’s position in the market, the full breadth of our portfolio, and how we can deliver whole solutions to our customers. The digital reprint is available below.
March / April 2015 (.pdf)
