FCC Moves to Revisit Prison Phone Rate Caps, Modernize Submarine Cable Rules

Lead: The Federal Communications Commission announced plans to reopen its 2024 prison phone rate cap order and adopted new submarine cable security rules, setting comment deadlines and an October vote in Washington on September 17, 2025.

Nut Graf: By signaling a revisit of rate caps on inmate phone calls and modernizing submarine cable licensing, the FCC aims to balance consumer protection, national security and infrastructure deployment. These actions will influence corrections costs, broadband connectivity and oversight of critical communications assets.

Prison Phone Rate Caps Under Review

  • The FCC told the U.S. Court of Appeals it will vote October 28 on an order to reconsider parts of its 2024 prison phone rate cap rule and launch a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on calculation methods.
  • Nearly 100 advocacy groups, 23 members of Congress and state attorneys general oppose the rollback, citing the bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Act’s mandate for affordable inmate communications.
  • The agency plans to circulate draft text two weeks before the vote, though the scope of reversals remains unclear.

Submarine Cable Licensing Overhaul

  • In a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 25-49), the FCC adopted new rules to mitigate national security risks from foreign adversaries and streamline submarine cable licensing.
  • The order requires enhanced review of entities linked to foreign adversaries and certification for shore-end terminal equipment, while the FNPRM seeks comment on annual reporting and additional security measures.
  • Comments on the FNPRM are due 30 days after Federal Register publication, with reply comments due 60 days thereafter.

State Corrections Endorse Signal Jamming Proposal

  • The Oklahoma Department of Corrections publicly backed an FCC proposal to permit jamming of contraband cellphone signals in prisons, arguing it would strengthen institutional security.
  • The plan, slated for a Sept. 30 vote, would lift current restrictions under the Communications Act that limit correctional facilities’ ability to block illicit devices.

Chairman Carr Warns Broadcasters Over “News Distortion”

  • FCC Chair Brendan Carr signaled the agency could revoke ABC affiliate licenses in response to Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue linking Charlie Kirk’s assassin to “the MAGA gang.”
  • Speaking on a podcast, Carr described the remarks as “reprehensible” and urged broadcasters to suspend Kimmel’s show before FCC intervention.

Subheadings and Bullet Points Help Readers Scan:

  • October 28 Vote: Reconsideration order and FNPRM on prison phone rates
  • Security Measures: New foreign-entity disclosures for submarine cables
  • Correctional Support: Oklahoma DOC urges signal jamming authority
  • Editorial Accountability: Carr threatens license actions over programming

Each initiative reflects the FCC’s dual focus on consumer cost protections and safeguarding U.S. communications infrastructure.