DOCKET ALE COPY ORIGINAL EX PARTE OR LATE FILED 111111-------------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: Whetsel, John Monday, December 09, 2013 2:16 PM Tom Wheeler WC Docket No. 12-375 ACCEPTED/FILED MAR 2 5 Z014 Federal Communications Commission Office of the Secretary Mr. Tom Wheeler/ FCC Chairman In regard to the FCC Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services (WC Docket No. 12-375)1 I and thousands of SheriWs across the country would urge you to stay the Order as it applies to Sheriffs and jails; The FCC Order mandates a 1/one-size-fits-aW/ approach to regulating inmate calling services for both prisons and jails. The Order fails to take into account the unique challenges inherent in providing calling services to the majority of the nation 1 S jails that are small in size and have high turnover of inmate populations weekly. Inmate calling systems are built to the unique needs of each jail and provide a va riety of important safety and secu rity components. The Order disregards this reality and creates a regulatory environment that jeopardizes these services. Many jails may be forced to severely limit or eliminate inmate calling privileges. The FCC has recognized in its Order that jails incur real costs to administer inmate calling services; however/ the rates set by the FCC eliminate commissions to jails on inter-state calls and do not include any allowance for cost recovery for jails. A STAY must be granted for jails until such time as the FCC and Sheriffs can determine a proper method for jails to recover these costs. Because Sheriffs Office budgets are already set for 2014 many Sheriffs will not have the financial resources necessary to continue to administer inmate calling 1 services and perform the vital security functions required to protect the public. If this order is not stayed/ our jail and many other jails will have no alternative but to eliminate the availability of these telephone calls on the effective date of the order. jOVtV\, WV\etseL Oklahoma County Sheriff "Pride In who we are ... Professional in what we dol" Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office 201 N Shartel Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405-869-2511 .. --- ... .. , 1 ......... 0 . ...... -.. -·-· ...