From the FCC Enforcement Section
This is a Short Excerpt of the Violation Notice--The Complete Notice Can be Found at the Link Posted Below
--------------------------------------------
Media Contact:
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC PROPOSES $63 MILLION FINE FOR LIFELINE VIOLATIONS
Largest USF-Related Penalty Proposed for Apparently Seeking Federal Lifeline
Funds for Ineligible Accounts, Including Deceased Subscribers, While Company
Ownership Spent Those Funds on Luxury Personal Items
--
WASHINGTON, October 23, 2018—The Federal Communications Commission today
proposed a $63,465,500 fine against American Broadband and Telecommunications Company,
a wireless reseller based in Ohio, for apparent repeated, systematic, and large-scale violations
of FCC rules governing the Lifeline program, which helps make communications services
more affordable for low-income Americans.
The Lifeline program provides a $9.25 discount on broadband and phone services for lowincome
consumers. Service providers participating in the program receive funds for each
eligible Lifeline subscriber and must pass the savings on to those subscribers.
The FCC found that American Broadband, through its sales agents, apparently improperly
sought and received Lifeline funding by creating numerous ineligible Lifeline subscriber
accounts. For example, the company created fake accounts by enrolling deceased individuals
and by manipulating the personal information (names, dates of birth, and social security
numbers) of existing Lifeline subscribers. In addition, the company apparently filed inaccurate
forms with the Lifeline program administrator and apparently failed to de-enroll subscribers it
knew or should have known were ineligible to receive Lifeline support.
*(More can be Found Here)*--> https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-354704A1.pdf
This is a Short Excerpt of the Violation Notice--The Complete Notice Can be Found at the Link Posted Below
--------------------------------------------
Media Contact:
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC PROPOSES $63 MILLION FINE FOR LIFELINE VIOLATIONS
Largest USF-Related Penalty Proposed for Apparently Seeking Federal Lifeline
Funds for Ineligible Accounts, Including Deceased Subscribers, While Company
Ownership Spent Those Funds on Luxury Personal Items
--
WASHINGTON, October 23, 2018—The Federal Communications Commission today
proposed a $63,465,500 fine against American Broadband and Telecommunications Company,
a wireless reseller based in Ohio, for apparent repeated, systematic, and large-scale violations
of FCC rules governing the Lifeline program, which helps make communications services
more affordable for low-income Americans.
The Lifeline program provides a $9.25 discount on broadband and phone services for lowincome
consumers. Service providers participating in the program receive funds for each
eligible Lifeline subscriber and must pass the savings on to those subscribers.
The FCC found that American Broadband, through its sales agents, apparently improperly
sought and received Lifeline funding by creating numerous ineligible Lifeline subscriber
accounts. For example, the company created fake accounts by enrolling deceased individuals
and by manipulating the personal information (names, dates of birth, and social security
numbers) of existing Lifeline subscribers. In addition, the company apparently filed inaccurate
forms with the Lifeline program administrator and apparently failed to de-enroll subscribers it
knew or should have known were ineligible to receive Lifeline support.
*(More can be Found Here)*--> https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-354704A1.pdf
