From behind bars, New York prison inmates across the state plan to protest what they say are unfair telephone rates by making collect calls to their families, only to have them refuse to accept them. Organizers said the Feb. 16 boycott is in opposition to a contract between MCI and the state Department of Correctional

Services which gives MCI a monopoly over collect calls from prisoners and allows it to drastically raise the cost of calls. With the average 19-minute call costing $6, families often ring up $300 to $400 in monthly charges, said Annette Dickerson, statewide coordinator of the New York Campaign for Telephone Justice.

"Family members don't have a choice; they have to accept these collect calls if they want to maintain phone contact," Dickerson said Tuesday.

The campaign staged a similar boycott Dec. 16 and, at the suggestion of families, decided to continue it on the 16th of every month until changes are made, Dickerson said. On the chosen day, families receiving a collect call from a prison refuse to accept the call and hang up. The result is not economic harm to MCI, Dickerson said, but sends a message to the company and public.

The nonprofit Center for Constitutional Rights has sued DOC over the contract, claiming it is illegal and impedes families. A corrections spokeswoman, Linda Foglia, said she could not comment on the issue because of the pending litigation.