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Detention phone service to become charged line item after FCC rate cap; county seeks short term, month‑to‑month contract
Summary
Fallon County jail staff told commissioners that a new federal cap on inmate phone charges will require the county to pay for call‑record storage and retrieval; the sheriff's office recommends a month‑to‑month arrangement while the FCC rule is under review and while county evaluates alternative vendors.
Fallon County officials told commissioners the county’s detention phone vendor, Securus Technologies, will begin charging for call recording storage and retrieval after the Federal Communications Commission’s rate cap reduced allowable per‑minute fees for inmate calls.
For years the county’s phone system arrangement had been revenue‑neutral or produced small kickbacks when phone cards were sold; the new FCC cap dropped rates to levels that make the vendor’s storage and retrieval services chargeable. County staff said Securus quoted a storage/maintenance charge on the order of about $267 per month for Fallon’s facility under the proposed new terms. The jail administrator said Securus agreed to a month‑to‑month contract so the county could reassess rapidly if federal or vendor circumstances change.
Commissioners discussed options including renegotiating the contract, switching vendors (some vendors have proposed running existing hardware with a different vendor plate), and offsetting costs by charging slightly more for phone cards sold at the detention center. Staff noted a separate Montana statute gave inmates one free 10‑minute call per week and said the county needs to confirm whether the state or vendor will continue to provide the free calls under the new fee schedule. Commissioners asked staff to review whether the county could subsidize or charge for phone cards and whether the 10‑minute free call for inmates would remain funded. The jail administrator recommended continued short‑term contracting so the county retains flexibility if the FCC reconsidered its rate decision or if another vendor offers a cost‑free alternative.
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to place the contract on a near‑term work session so they can consider a month‑to‑month agreement, confirm whether the free 10‑minute calls are funded under the new arrangement, and pursue bids or vendor visits if the rule remains in place.
