If you give out monopolies, then this is what happens. Here&#x27;s a simple idea to fix this: capitalism.<p>Mandate at least two providers at each prison and let them charge whatever they want. Let them race to the bottom so you get the same cheap voip rates the rest of the country has access to.<p>Oh and if they collude on pricing, throw the management in the same prison.<p>I bet they&#x27;d also start competing on the features the prison cares about too. Like tracking who&#x27;s calling who, speech to text transcripts, and service levels.<p>Problem with this approach is that it doesn&#x27;t allow for the cronyism that is ripe in this type of industry.