Prison Phone Justice

7/24/2012

Rece\ved &\nsfleeted

AUG -1 2012

FCC MaH Room
Gary D. Wolfe #153095
Thumb Correctional Facility
3225 John Conley Dr.
Lapeer, MI 48446
Chairman Julius Genachowski
Federal Communications Commisssion
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
I'm writing to request a hard copy of the WRIGHT PETITION (CC Docket #96-128).
Please let me know of any cost associated with this request and I will remit the same.
Thank you.

~..

This is a public comment for the WRIGHT PETITION (CC Docket #96-128)
Gary D. Wolfe #153095
Thumb Correctional Facility
3225 John Conley Dr.
Lapeer, Mi 48446

Received & Inspected

AUG -1 2012

FCC Mail Room

Chairman Julius Genachowski
Federal Communications Commission
Public Comments
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:

I'm writing to ask that you act on the Wright Petition to cap inmate telephone
rates and thereby stopping the exploitation of prisoners and their loved ones.
I have been incarcerated for over 35 years and for the last 20 years or so my
family and I have been forced to pay exorbitant telephone rates. There was a time when
rates were reasonable and I could call home without it being a financial burden on myself
or those I called. In the late 80's the Michigan Department of Corrections figured out that
this vital service could be exploited to reap huge financial profits for their budget.
Over the years I have lost contact with many distant relatives, friends and loved
ones due the high cost of our telephone calls. Considering that the actual cost of a fifteen
minute call, according to Michigan's latest inmate telephone contract, is only about $0.75,
it's outrageous that an additional charge of $2.50 is added to the price of each call for the
MDOC and telephone provider to pocket as pure profit. We are even required to pay a
6% "telephone" tax on this portion of the charge despite this charge having nothing
whatsoever to do with the cost of providing the telephone service.
The telephone company, in this case, Public Communication Services (PCS), generates
more profits from their cut of this added charge than they do from providing the actual
telephone service.
Budgets for prison operation are supposed to come through general appropriation. The
cost of running our prisons should be borne through taxes imposed equally on all the
residents in the state. To target a particular class of people, especially those who are
struggling and can least afford it, is outrageous and should be stopped. It's the right and
fair thing to do. Legislatures and local governments will not stop this because the
financial incentive is far to great, and it also makes them look tough prisoners. But it is
our families who pay 90% of these charges, and they haven't done a thing to deserve this
treatment. They deserve better, and you have the authority to make it right.
Sincerely

July 26,2012

This is a public comment for the
Wright petition(CC Docket no.96-128).

Bobby S.Janoe J25333
Calipatria State Prison
P.O.Box 5005
Calipatria CA 92233

. d Iii. \t:lSHeeted
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~UG - ~ Z012

fCC MaU Room
Chairman Julius Genachowski
Federal Communications Commission
Public Comments
445 12th Street,SW
Washibgton D.C.
20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski,
I am writing to your office to explain the impact of high costs
for telephone calls on me and my family.
In the California Dept.
of Corrections,the cost of a telephone call to one of my family
members is very high.
Consequently,I am not able to call family
members as much as I would like,because they cannot afford to pay
for the collect calls.
Due directly to the lack of telephone calls to my family,my
relationships with my family members has deteriorated,over the last
several years.
My family members cannot afford to pay the high
collect costs associated with the California Dept.of Corrections,
at the holidays,i.e,birthdays,anniversaries,etc.
My mother is in her 70's,consequently,she lives on a fixed limited
income.
Most of her income is tommitted for her primary needs,i.e,
housing and food.
There is no funds left to help fund secondary
needs,such as collect telephone calls from me.
I have lost complete contact with my daughter,Misty,due directly
to the high costs of collect calls,that she cannot afford to pay.
My daughter lives out of the state of California;consequently,the
wages she is able to earn are not very much.
Moreover,the financial hardships America is experiencing in the present time make
it even harder to keep in contact with family by collect telephone
calls.
I have lost complete contact with my niece,Amanda,due directly to
the high costs of collect calls,that she cannot afford to pay.
My niece lives outside of California.
I would request your office carefully consider the Wright petition.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,

VERIFICATION
(C.c.P. § 446 & 2015.5: 28 U.S.C. § 1746)

STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF IMPERIAL

I,

Bob b y S. Jan 0 e
DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY mAT: I AM THE
Dec 1 a ran t
IN THE ABOVE ENTITLED ACTION. I HAVE READ THE FOREGOING DOCUMENTS

AND KNOW THE CONTENTS THEREOF AND THE SAME IS TRUE OF MY OWN KNOWLEDGE EXCEPT AS
TO MATTERS STATED THEREIN UPON INFORMATION AND BELIEF AND AS TO THOSE MATTERS, I
BELIEVE THEM TO BE TRUE.
EXECUTED THIS
26 t h
DAY OF _.><.J....
u.....l-,J.y_ _ _ 20 12 AT CALIPATRIA STATE PRISON
CALIP ATRIA, CALIFORNIA 92233-5002.

=-: : :-:-,:-~=th-cH: :-_!_.~/r

ld=-'vvt.J£-'-_ _ _ _ (DECLARANTIPRISONER)

SIGNATlnit

//

PROOF OF SERVICE BY MAIL
(C.C.P. §IOI3(a) & 2015.5: U.S.C. § 1746)

I,
Bob b y S. Jan 0 e
AM A RESIDENT OF CALIPATRIA STATE PRISON, IN mE COUNTY OF
IMPERIAL, STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I AM OVER EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE AND AM I AtI~I~A
PARTY OF THE ABOVE ENTITLED ACTION. MY STATE PRISON ADDRESS IS P.O. BOX 5002,
CALIPATRIA STATE PRISON, CALIPATRIA, CALIFORNIA 92233-5002.
ON _ _ _ _ _
J_u_l~y_2_6:.....z....,_2012 IS SERVED THE FOREGOING:

Letter to Chairman Julius Genachowski,Federal Communications
Co mm iss ion, Wrig h t pet i t ion

(SET FORTH EXACT TITLE OF DOCUMENTS SERVED)

co~~fuR!&'b~,E};~ce8~%~ 1~GAiE:D

ON mE PARTY(S) HEREIN BY PLACING A TRUE
ENVELOPE(S) WITH POSTAGE THEREON FULLY PAID, IN ATHE UNITED STATES MAIL, IN A DEPOSIT
BOX SO PROVIDED AT CALIPATRIA STATE PRISON, CALIPATRIA, CALIFORNIA 92233-5002.

Chairman Julius Genachowski
Federal Communications Commission
Public Comments
445 12th Street,SW
Washibgton D.C.
20554

THERE IS DELIVERY SERVICE BY UNITED STATE MAIL AT THE PLACE SO ADDRESSED, AND THERE IS
REGULAR COMMUNICATION BY MAIL BETWEEN THE PLACE OF MAILING AND THE SO ADDRESSED.
I DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THE FORGOING IS TRUE AND CORRECT.

DATE _ _ _ _ _ _. . .:J::..,:u:::..;1:::.. Y.I. . -""'2"""6-L._ _ 2012

~;~

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