TELECOM
US Congress
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold an executive session on March 16, 2016, to consider various measures, including the FCC Reauthorization Act of 2016. See the Regulatory Mix dated 3/8/16.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a full committee markup on Monday, March 14, 2016, to consider H.R. 2666, the No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act, that would prevent the FCC from regulating the rates charged for broadband service. See the Regulatory Mix dated 2/12/16.
FCC
Cramming Forfeiture
The FCC issued a $1.6 million monetary forfeiture against Net One International, a Florida-based long distance carrier, for improperly billing consumers for unauthorized charges and fees purportedly in connection with long distance telephone service billing consumers for unauthorized charges and fees (cramming). The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau reviewed over 100 consumer complaints filed with the FCC and the Better Business Bureau. Consumers complained that Net One continued to charge them for services and “late fees” after they had affirmatively cancelled their service and paid all final bills. Net One then refused to let consumers close their accounts until they paid these unauthorized charges and fees. In many cases, consumers contacted Net One repeatedly about the unauthorized billings, but were unable to resolve the issue until after they filed a complaint. The FCC also found that Net One continued to engage in cramming despite repeated warnings from the FCC that such actions violated the law. Net One was assessed the base forfeiture amount of $40,000 for each of the 20 cramming violations. That amount was then upwardly adjusted due to the egregious and repeated nature of Net One’s conduct, to $80,000 for each of the 20 cramming violations, or a total forfeiture of $1.6 million.
March 31, 2016, Open Meeting
The FCC announced the tentative agenda for Its March 31, 2016, Open Meeting. The following three items are on the tentative agenda: