Global Tel Link

GTEL Holdings, Inc.
GTL
Private
Industry Telecommunications
Founded 1980 (1980) in Mobile, Alabama, United States
Headquarters Reston, Virginia, U.S.
Key people
 Brian D. Oliver, CEO
Jeffrey Haidinger, COO
Products Telephone services in prisons
Website gtl.net

Global Tel Link (GTL), formerly known as Global Telcoin, Inc. and Global Tel*Link Corporation, is a telecommunications company that provides telephone services to prisons.[1][2] The company is based in Reston, Virginia and was founded in 1980. The company's CEO is Brian D. Oliver.[2] Global Tel*Link has been criticized for profiting off and creating a monopoly in communication with incarcerated individuals.

History

Global Tel Link was founded in 1980 in Mobile, Alabama under the name Global Telcoin, Inc. The company changed its name in 1999 to Global Tel*Link Corporation.[2]

Reception

As with other inmate telephone providers, GTL has faced media scrutiny over the cost of its services and lack of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) oversight, entering into concession contracts with local prisons in order to have a monopoly on the provision of inmate telecom. The FCC reported that an inmate call from GTL could cost as much as US$17.30 for a 15 minute call,[3][4] The company claimed that these high costs were required in order to securely monitor these calls..[5][6]

In 2015, the FCC implemented a rule to cap the fees for interstate inmate phone calls at $3.75 for 15 minutes. However, in March 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the FCC could not cap rates on prison phone calls, but upheld the ability to cap other ancillary charges.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Lee Fang (June 24, 2015). "OPM Contractor's Parent Firm Has a Troubled History". The Intercept.
  2. 1 2 3 "Company overview". BusinessWeek. 18 Mar 2009. Retrieved 18 Mar 2009.
  3. ↑ Ryan Dezember (17 April 2014). "American Securities Puts Prison-Phone Operator GTL on Block". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  4. ↑ Joshua Brustein (December 17, 2014). "Serial's $2,500 Phone Bill and the Prison-Calling Racket". Bloomberg Business.
  5. ↑ Ashley Nicole Black (February 21, 2015). "Here are 6 Companies That Get Rich off Prisoners". attn.
  6. ↑ Jones/Ap, Dow (2006-07-04). "Phone Card Issuers Must Pay Access Fees". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  7. ↑ Ina Fried (March 7, 2016). "Court Ruling Puts Cheaper Prison Calls on Hold". Recode.

External links

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