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   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

   April 2, 2015  Neil Grace, 202-418-0506

   E-mail: neil.grace@fcc.gov

    FCC PLANS $5.9 MILLION FINE AGAINST ROMAN LD, INC., FOR MISREPRESENTING
        ITS IDENTITY AND ILLEGALLY SWITCHING CONSUMERS' PHONE COMPANIES

        Long Distance Carrier Allegedly Relied on Misrepresentations and
   Fabricated "Authorization" Recordings to Make Carrier Changes and Mislead
                                   Regulators

   Washington, D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission plans to fine
   Roman LD, Inc., an Irving, Texas telephone company, $5.9M for allegedly
   switching consumers' long distance telephone services without their
   authorization ("slamming"), misrepresenting the company's identity during
   telemarketing calls, fabricating "authorization" recordings as "proof" of
   consumers' authorizations, and transferring control of the company without
   Commission approval.

   "Consumers should be able to trust that they will not be billed for phone
   services they did not authorize or agree to," said Travis LeBlanc, Chief
   of the Enforcement Bureau. "Today's action reflects the FCC's commitment
   to holding companies accountable when they seek to make a buck by lying to
   consumers and illegally switching their chosen telephone carriers."

   The Enforcement Bureau reviewed over 100 complaints against Roman that
   consumers filed with the Commission, the Better Business Bureau, state
   regulatory agencies, and directly with Roman. Consumers complained that
   Roman switched their long distance service provider without their
   authorization. In some cases, consumers stated that Roman's telemarketer
   pretended to be employed by the consumer's own telephone carrier. On at
   least two occasions, Roman apparently falsified an audio recording of the
   "authorization" to make it appear that the consumer had agreed to the
   carrier change. The investigation also showed that ownership and control
   of the company was apparently transferred, including its domestic and
   international authority to provide telecommunications services, without
   prior Commission approval as required by the Communications Act and
   Commission rules.

   The Commission charged Roman with willfully and repeatedly switching
   consumers' preferred long distance carrier without verified authorization
   and transferring control of the company without authorization, all in
   apparent violation of the Communications Act and Commission rules.

   The Commission has taken 30 enforcement actions for cramming or slamming
   in the past five years. These actions have announced almost $100 million
   in penalties, and are slated to return more than $200 million to
   consumers.

   For more information about the FCC's rules protecting consumers from
   unauthorized charges on telephone bills, see the FCC consumer guide to
   slamming, [1]https://www.fcc.gov/guides/
   slamming-switching-your-authorized-telephone-company-without-permission,
   or cramming,
   [2]https://www.fcc.gov/guides/cramming-unauthorized-misleading-or-deceptive-charges-placed-your-telephone-bill.

   To file a complaint with the FCC, go to
   [3]https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us or contact the FCC's
   Consumer Center by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or
   1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or by writing
   to:

                       Federal Communications Commission

                    Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

                   Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division

                              445 12th Street, SW

                              Washington, DC 20554

   The Notice of Apparent Liability is available at:
   https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/
   FCC-15-42A1.pdf

                                     -FCC-





   NEWS

   Federal Communications Commission

   445 12th Street, S.W.

   Washington, D.C. 20554

   This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the
   full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.

   See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

                                        News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

                                                 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

References

   Visible links
   1. https://www.fcc.gov/guides/slamming-switching-your-authorized-telephone-company-without-permission
   2. https://www.fcc.gov/guides/cramming-unauthorized-misleading-or-deceptive-charges-placed-your-telephone-bill
   3. https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us