FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2001

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: John Winston (202) 418-7450

Washington, D.C. - Today the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) released an Order imposing a $520,000 fine against AT&T Communications, Inc. (AT&T) for violations of the Communications Act and the Commission's rules against slamming.

Today's order resolves a Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) issued by the Commission against AT&T on December 21, 2000. In its response to the NAL, AT&T did not deny that it submitted unauthorized change orders for six of the consumer telephone lines, but argued that the Commission should reduce or rescind the fine for these violations. In regard to the remaining eight alleged violations, AT&T argued in its response that no slamming violations had actually occurred.

In today's action, the Commission found that AT&T slammed 11 of the 14 customer telephone lines referenced in the NAL. With respect to the remaining three allegations, the Commission found that the available evidence indicated that those consumers did, in fact, authorize switching their carriers.

Action by the Commission, April 12, 2001, by Order of Forfeiture FCC 01-128. Chairman Powell, Commissioners Ness and Tristani. Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth concurring in part and dissenting in part, and issuing a separate statement.

File No. EB-00-TC-006

Enforcement Bureau Contacts: John Winston at (202) 418-7450 or Catherine Seidel at (202) 418-7320.