FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
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News media information 202/418-0500 TTY 202/418-2555 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet http://www.fcc.gov ftp://ftp.fcc.gov |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2000 |
NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: John Winston (202) 418-7450 |
Washington, D.C. - Today, the Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission released an Order adopting a Consent Decree between the Bureau and Sprint Communications Company, LP (Sprint) that terminates a Bureau investigation into slamming of consumers by Sprint agents. Slamming is the illegal practice of switching consumers' preferred long distance or other telephone carrier without their consent. Sprint voluntarily brought the slamming to the attention of the Commission and state regulatory authorities and began promptly taking voluntary remedial actions.
Under the terms of the Consent Decree, Sprint will make a voluntary contribution to the United States Treasury of $250,000. Sprint has also taken or agreed to take the following steps: (1) return all affected customers to their pre-selected carrier; (2) credit affected customers for charges they incurred; (3) provide a free $10 calling card to all affected customers; (4) obtain termination of the telemarketing agents directly involved and removal from Sprint accounts of their supervisors; and (5) implement a strengthened slamming prevention, detection and disciplinary program.
The Consent Decree follows three other slamming enforcement actions by the Commission since early February: (1) a $1.36 million forfeiture imposed on Amer-I-Net Services Corporation; (2) a $2 million forfeiture imposed on Long Distance Direct, Inc.; and (3) a $1 million forfeiture imposed on Brittan Communications International, Inc. In the last six weeks, the Commission and the Enforcement Bureau have taken slamming enforcement actions involving payments to the Treasury totalling over $4.5 million.
File No.EB-00-TC-002
Enforcement Bureau Contacts:
John Winston at (202) 418-7450
Cynthia Bryant at (202) 418-8164