<div dir="ltr"><div>Dear supporters of #PhoneJustice!<br><br></div><div>We're happy to share the news that we successfully won significantly lower rates for phone call from prisons and jails in the United States. The FCC voted last Thursday to regulate this long unchecked exploitation of those incarcerated and their families. Thanks for helping to make this dream a reality! <br><br><div>In a nutshell, the FCC approved rates at 11 cents a minute for 
federal and state prisons. Jails are capped at 14-22 cents a minute. The FCC did not address commissions. In the coming year, we will be taking up a state bill to end commissions in Illinois. Currently, the state is collecting at least $13 million a year from commissions aka "kickbacks." We will be reaching out to you to stop this legalized bribery scheme.    <br><br></div><div>We had lots of wonderful press in the last week. There's a list of links below. Please share on social media to let your friends know you support #PhoneJustice. <br><br></div><div>For a summary, you can read <a href="http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/33435-children-with-incarcerated-parents-played-key-role-in-phone-justice-victory">this story</a> I wrote for Truthout about the campaign, and watch a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz5IG2YRWhY">video</a> featuring Champaign's own Wandjell Harvey-Robinson.  <br></div><br></div><div>Stay tuned, we're planning a victory party in the coming weeks!<br clear="all"></div><div><br></div><div>Thank you for helping to spread the word!<br><br></div><div>Peace, BD<br></div><div><br>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/26/opinion/fcc-makes-telephone-calls-for-inmates-cheaper.html">www.nytimes.com/2015/10/26/opinion/fcc-makes-telephone-calls-for-inmates-cheaper.html</a></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/prison-phone-costs-fcc-obama_5628f5f0e4b0443bb562d907">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/prison-phone-costs-fcc-obama_5628f5f0e4b0443bb562d907</a></p>

<br></div><div>CU's own Wandjell Harvey-Robinson featured by Al-Jazeera:<br><a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/live-news/2015/10/prison-phone-call-price-gouging-is-over.html">http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/live-news/2015/10/prison-phone-call-price-gouging-is-over.html</a><br><br>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal">NPR story featuring Miguel Saucedo, UIUC PHD and Chicago activist: <br></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><a href="http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=450464766&m=450464767">http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=450464766&m=450464767</a></p>

<br></div>Kevin Reese, Jr.<br><div><div>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/10/22/3715033/prison-phone-rates-vote/">http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/10/22/3715033/prison-phone-rates-vote/</a></p>

<br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.<br></div><div></div><a href="http://briandolinar.com" target="_blank">briandolinar.com</a><br></div></div>
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