1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Family Telephone Connection Protection Act of 2017 . 2. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) It is the policy of the United States to ensure that all Americans are afforded just and reasonable communications services, including those families that pay rates for inmate telephone and video service. (2) Telephone and video calls are the primary methods by which individuals correspond and maintain contact with family members who are incarcerated in correctional institutions. (3) Except for emergency purposes, family members are not allowed to call people incarcerated in correctional institutions, and incarcerated persons are typically allowed to call family members and other pre-approved individuals only through facilities physically located on the premises of correctional institutions. (4) Inmate telephone and video service in correctional institutions often is limited to collect calling. (5) Regardless of whether the inmates’ calls are placed collect or through a debit account, the inmates’ family members typically pay for the calls, either through their telephone bills, in the case of collect calls received from inmates, or by making deposits directly into inmates’ debit accounts. (6) It is clear from various studies that maintaining frequent and meaningful communications between people who are incarcerated and family members is key to the successful social reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals. Such contact reduces recidivism and facilitates rehabilitation, which in turn reduces crime and the future costs of imprisonment. (7) Frequent communication between incarcerated persons and family members is burdened, and in some cases, prevented, by excessive inmate telephone and video service rates. Excessive inmate telephone and video service rates thus weaken the family and community ties that are necessary for successful reentry into society by persons who were formerly incarcerated and the reduction in crime resulting from successful reentry. (8)