Incarcerated Persons Calling Services

Incarcerated Persons Calling Services (IPCS)

Overview

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulates intrastate Incarcerated Persons Calling Services (IPCS) provided to correctional facilities throughout California.

On April 9, 2026, the Commission adopted Decision (D.) 26-04-004, which establishes California's permanent regulatory framework for intrastate IPCS voice services. The decision concludes Rulemaking (R.) 20-10-002 and adopts permanent voice rate caps, ancillary fee requirements, compliance obligations, and procedures for future rate adjustments.

The Commission's regulatory framework is intended to ensure that incarcerated persons and their families have access to affordable, just, and reasonable communication services while providing a transparent process for providers seeking Commission approval of rate changes.

Rulemaking R.20-10-002

Rulemaking (R.) 20-10-002 was opened to examine the rates, terms, and conditions under which intrastate IPCS are provided in California.

Following extensive public participation, provider input, economic analysis, and review of provider costs, the Commission adopted Decision D.26-04-004 establishing permanent statewide regulation of intrastate IPCS voice services. The proceeding is now closed.

Resources

Rulemaking (R.) 20-10-002 [https://apps.cpuc.ca.gov/apex/f?p=401:56::::RP,57,RIR:P5_PROCEEDING_SELECT:R2010002]

Decision (D.) 26-04-004 [https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M604/K717/604717792.PDF]
Decision (D.) 21-08-037 (Interim IPCS Rate Decision) [https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M401/K375/401375687.PDF]

Decision D.26-04-004

Decision 26-04-004 establishes California's permanent regulatory framework for intrastate IPCS.

Among other things, the Commission:

adopts a permanent maximum intrastate voice rate of $0.045 per minute
establishes permanent ancillary fee requirements
creates a Tier 1 and Tier 2 Advice Letter process for future rate changes
establishes compliance filing requirements for IPCS providers
closes Rulemaking R.20-10-002.

Permanent Intrastate Voice Rate

The Commission adopted a permanent maximum intrastate voice rate of $0.045 per minute for debit, prepaid, and collect voice-only IPCS calls originating from California correctional facilities not covered by Senate Bill 1008.

The Commission determined that this rate is and reasonable and provides a statewide standard for intrastate voice services.

Ancillary Fees

Decision D.26-04-004 permanently prohibits most ancillary fees associated with IPCS.

Providers may recover only:

actual third-party financial transaction fees (maximum $6.95 per transaction, no markup)
government-mandated taxes and fees passed through without markup

All other ancillary fees remain prohibited unless express authorized by the Commission.

Future Rate Adjustments

The Commission established two Advice Letter processes for future rate changes.

Tier 1 Advice Letter

For voluntary reductions below the Commission-approved rate cap.

Tier 2 Advice Letter

For requests to increase rates above the Commission-approved cap.

Tier 2 Advice Letters must include sufficient supporting documentation demonstrating the need for a higher rate, including detailed cost and financial information as required by Decision D.26-04-004.

Advice Letter Filing Procedures

Decision D.26-04-004 requires IPCS providers seeking Commission approval of rate changes to utilize the Communications Division Advice Letter process.

The filing procedure depends upon the provider's operating authority.

Telephone Corporations

Providers operating under a California Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), Wireless Identification Registration (WIR), §1013 Registration, Interconnected VoIP authority, or other Commission-issued operating authority should submit Advice Letters through the existing Communications Division Advice Letter process.

Providers should follow all filing requirements contained in:

General Order 96-B [https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M023/K381/23381302.PDF]
Communications Division Advice Letter Procedures [https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/internet-and-phone/advice-letter-information]
Decision (D.) 26-04-004 [https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M604/K717/604717792.PDF]

Advice Letter Information

https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/internet-and-phone/advice-letter-information

Non-Telephone Corporation IPCS Providers

Certain IPCS providers are not telephone corporations and therefore are not maintained within the Commission's Oracle-PAL Advice Letter system.

Decision D.26-04-004 applies equally to these providers.

These providers should follow the same Communications Division Advice Letter procedures applicable to telephone corporations.

After completing the standard Advice Letter filing process, non-telephone corporation IPCS providers should also email a complete copy of the filed Advice Letter and supporting documents to:

IPCS_Filings@cpuc.ca.gov

This additional submission allows the filing to be assigned to the California Connect IPCS unit for administrative intake, tracking, review, correspondence, and disposition. It does not create a separate filing process or modify any provider filing requirements under General Order 96-B or Decision D.26-04-004.

Compliance Filings

Decision D.26-04-004 requires providers, as applicable, to submit: