Phoning home

One of the first things I noticed when I got here were the bright blue phones on the dayroom wall. At San Saba, they had just started putting the phones in. We were one of the last units in one of the last states to get phones. I was glad to see then already in place here.

The phones can only be used to call members on your visitation list and are quite pricey compared to normal minutes. We are allowed 120 minutes each month and each call can be no longer than 15 minutes. We can call collect or use a prepaid debit account that costs a bit less. The most backwards part is that the only numbers we can call are land lines, which rules out all cell phones, the main mode of voice communication these days. I understand security concerns, but that's why they make sure each number is actually registered to a visitor. My family did not have a land line until they found out that was the only way I could contact them.

When making a call, the phone system by Embarq makes us go through several security measures, including voice recognition. In San Saba, a technician came by to get our voices registered. We say our full name, then "Texas Department of Criminal Justice." This is where everyone has the most problems. I had to try close to thirty times when I made my first call before it went through. And the system hangs up on you if you don't clear in four times. Being in a noisy dayroom doesn't help.

The first time I went through to my parent's phone was a couple of weeks ago. There was no answer, as I later found out that the phone was unplugged to keep from getting telemarketer calls until they found out I could call. My first conversation with them was last week and I talked to my youngest brother for almost the whole fifteen minutes. After a few tries, I was able to manipulate my voice correctly and I had a good conversation with my folks.

Today I spent at least an hour trying to get my voice to go through before it worked. Unfortunately, no one seemed to be home on the two times I managed to get through. I guess I'll just have to try again later.