Phone & Video Calls in Ohio (ODRC)
Ohio's communications vendor (ViaPath / ConnectNetwork), the free call and video allowances ODRC provides, how prepaid accounts work, the 2023 switch from the prior vendor, and where to confirm the current per-minute rates.
How calls work
Ohio’s communications vendor is ViaPath Technologies (formerly GTL; its consumer brand is ConnectNetwork). Ohio switched from its prior vendor to ViaPath in 2023. ViaPath provides phones, tablets, electronic messaging/email, and video visits.
ODRC provides several free allowances:
- Twelve free 10-minute phone calls per month to the whole population,
- 60 free minutes at reception for newly received people, and
- about 15 free video-visit minutes per month.
For calls beyond the free allowances, families set up a prepaid account through ConnectNetwork. ViaPath customer service is 877-650-4249.
Call and video rates
ODRC states that the ViaPath contract cut domestic call costs by about 60% and video-visit costs by more than half, with video billed per actual minute rather than in 30-minute blocks. Because the published per-minute rate changes, check ConnectNetwork’s current ODRC rate sheet for the exact figure rather than relying on a fixed number.
Messaging and email
ViaPath provides electronic messaging/email through ConnectNetwork and the tablet program. Confirm which platform currently reaches the person’s facility before relying on it.
Video visits
Video visits are scheduled and approved the same way as in-person visits, through ViaPath at gtlvisitme.com (see the visiting guide), and are monitored and recorded.
Verify Before Acting
Sources
This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.