Re: FCC fines for unauthorized carrier changes and consumer billing

["Patrick W. Gilmore" <patrick () ianai net>]

On Apr 23, 2021, at 12:47 PM, Sean Donelan <sean () donelan com> wrote:
> On Fri, 23 Apr 2021, Dan Hollis wrote:
> > On Fri, 23 Apr 2021, Eric Kuhnke wrote:
> > > Did the FCC ever collect its $50 million from "Sandwich Isles
> > > Telecommunications" for blatant fraud?  At this scale I wonder how or why
> > > certain people are not in federal prison.
> >
> > FCC is not law enforcement. The FTC can send people to prison. The FCC can only send press releases.
>
> Neither FCC nor FTC can send people to prison. Only the Department of Justice can criminally prosecute people (or 
> corporations, i.e. WORLDCOM, ENRON, etc) in the U.S. Federal system.  States and other countries vary.
>
> FCC can deny future licenses and make things difficult for long-term carriers. Most scammers declare bankruptcy or 
> just never pay.
>
>
> https://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/fcc-fine-enforcement-scrutiny-216121
> FCC proposes millions in fines, collects $0
> November 23, 2015

It just got harder for the FTC to fine people: 
https://www.morningbrew.com/daily/stories/2021/04/22/supreme-court-limits-ftcs-ability-recoup-illgotten-gains

-- 
TTFN,
patrick