content: They did it because nobody stopped them unfortunately. I'm not directly affected by this change and I'm thrilled that the FCC stepped in. To all the folks aghast at this decision have responded with things like "Who cares? They're prisoners! Let them suffer!": My opinion is you're dead wrong. The prisoners aren't even the ones having to deal with the obscene charges, but rather the families. When it's cheaper to call a phone sex line than talk to a loved one, something is seriously broken. Hell, this isn't just about being able to call your girlfriend, but also your fucking counsel. Do you think it's fair that someone (let's say someone that really IS innocent) having to deal with unwarranted prison time also having to pay $14 an minute just to get justice? I was taught in the military to lead by example and my superiors beat that into our heads constantly. I still believe that in principle and always will. American citizens are supposed to strive to be better than the worst elements of our society. We all have our faults, but we should work to better ourselves and our surroundings. I like the idea of being able to stand tall and act as a positive example for the rest of the world. There's plenty of people that no longer believe we act as the epitome of "good" and they point to examples like this one. I don't think anyone at the FCC is arguing for charity, just fairness. This practice was predatory and disgusting.    Edit: Originally commented as $14 an hour. I meant to type $14 a minute and I can't believe I posted that huge rant without checking what I typed. I guess my brain just refuses to type something as absurd as $14/min and automagically fixed it:)