letter-to-american-securities-re-gtl-covid-19-0b39789f8e30c2ec.pdf

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project and other organizations demand that American Securities end the 'predatory behavior' of its portfolio company, GTL, by providing unlimited free phone, video, and email services to incarcerated individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors argue that GTL's high rates—sometimes as much as $16.50 for a 15-minute call—exploit vulnerable populations, disproportionately women of color, and exacerbate the health risks of isolation during the pandemic.

• The authors allege that GTL employs predatory pricing for communication services, charging as much as $16.50 for a 15-minute call, which forces families to choose between basic necessities like rent or gas bills and staying connected with incarcerated relatives.
• The financial burden of these communication costs falls disproportionately on women, particularly women of color, with one-third of families with incarcerated loved ones entering debt to maintain contact.
• The authors argue that GTL's continued charging of high rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, while visits are suspended, increases isolation, which can weaken immune systems and increase susceptibility to infection.
• The letter demands several specific actions from American Securities to mitigate exploitation during the pandemic, including providing unlimited free phone, video, and email calls, waiving account deposit fees, eliminating deposit limits, and expanding infrastructure.

APA

Private Equity Stakeholder Project (2020). letter-to-american-securities-re-gtl-covid-19-0b39789f8e30c2ec.pdf. https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Letter-to-American-Securities-re-GTL-COVID-19.pdf

Chicago

Private Equity Stakeholder Project. letter-to-american-securities-re-gtl-covid-19-0b39789f8e30c2ec.pdf. 2020. https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Letter-to-American-Securities-re-GTL-COVID-19.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Private Equity Stakeholder Project |title=letter-to-american-securities-re-gtl-covid-19-0b39789f8e30c2ec.pdf |date=6 April 2020 |url=https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Letter-to-American-Securities-re-GTL-COVID-19.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{privateequitystakeholderproject2020lettertoamericansecuritiesregtlcovid190b39789f8e30c2ecpdf, author = {{Private Equity Stakeholder Project}}, title = {{letter-to-american-securities-re-gtl-covid-19-0b39789f8e30c2ec.pdf}}, publisher = {Private Equity Stakeholder Project}, year = {2020}, month = apr, url = {https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Letter-to-American-Securities-re-GTL-COVID-19.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }