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McLennan County ratifies amendment to inmate-phone/tablet contract after FCC cuts halve commission revenue
Summary
County staff and a ViaPath/GTL representative told commissioners FCC rate orders cut inmate-call and video-visit commissions roughly 50%, reducing commission revenue from an annualized ~$884,000 to ~$447,000; court approved an amendment to the ViaPath/GTL agreement to upgrade tablets, add on-site technicians and move some services to tablets to sustain services.
County staff and a ViaPath/GTL representative explained to the commissioners court on April 21 that a series of FCC rate orders and related regulation changes have substantially reduced the county's commission income on inmate telephone and video visitation services.
A vendor representative detailed prior FCC actions in 2016, 2016 (follow-up) and 2024 that increasingly lowered interim rates and prohibited many site-commission payments. The representative said the most recent order (effective April 6) reduces inmate-telephone rates from roughly 16¢/minute to 10¢/minute and video visitation from 25¢/minute to 19¢/minute, and allows a 2¢ per minute facility-cost rate additive that flows to the facility. Staff said those changes, combined with the prohibition on many site commissions, reduced county commissions from an annualized figure of about $884,000 to roughly $447,000.
To adapt, the county and ViaPath are proposing contract changes: upgrade the tablet fleet to a 1:1 tablet ratio (from 4:1) to increase usage, provide additional on-site technician support to minimize downtime, move some services from phone to tablets, and invest in infrastructure improvements. The vendor said the company will absorb substantial upgrade costs but warned the interim rates could be changed again in the future.
Commissioners asked about the dollar impact and staffing to support the transition; staff and the vendor provided details on network, service and revenue implications. The court voted to approve amendment number 9 with ViaPath Technologies to continue services under the updated terms.
The vote was taken by voice; the transcript records the motion and a unanimous voice vote in favor.
