Click here for Adobe Acrobat version
Click here for Microsoft Word version

******************************************************** 
                      NOTICE
********************************************************

This document was converted from Microsoft Word.

Content from the original version of the document such as
headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers
will not show up in this text version.

All text attributes such as bold, italic, underlining, etc. from the
original document will not show up in this text version.

Features of the original document layout such as
columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins
will not be preserved in the text version.

If you need the complete document, download the
Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat version.

*****************************************************************



                                   Before the

                       Federal Communications Commission

                             Washington, D.C. 20554


                                     )                               
                                                                     
                                     )                               
                                         File No. EB-07-TC-13331     
     In the Matter of                )                               
                                         NAL/Acct. No. 200932170011  
     Advanced Steel Concepts, Inc.   )                               
                                         FRN: 0018288878             
                                     )                               
                                                                     
                                     )                               


                                FORFEITURE ORDER

   Adopted: September 16, 2010 Released: September 28, 2010

   By the Commission:

   I. INTRODUCTION

   1. In this Forfeiture Order ("Order"), we issue a monetary forfeiture in
   the amount of $27,000 against Advanced Steel Concepts, Inc. ("Advanced
   Steel") for willful and repeated violations of section 227 of the
   Communications Act of 1934, as amended ("Act") and the Commission's
   related rules and orders, by delivering at least six unsolicited
   advertisements to the telephone facsimile machines of at least six
   consumers.

   II. BACKGROUND

   2. The facts and circumstances surrounding this case are set forth in the
   Commission's Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and need not be
   reiterated at length.

   3. Section 227(b)(1)(C) of the Act makes it "unlawful for any person
   within the United States, or any person outside the United States if the
   recipient is within the United States . . . to use any telephone facsimile
   machine, computer, or other device to send, to a telephone facsimile
   machine, an unsolicited advertisement."  The term "unsolicited
   advertisement" is defined in the Act and the Commission's rules as "any
   material advertising the commercial availability or quality of any
   property, goods, or services which is transmitted to any person without
   that person's prior express invitation or permission in writing or
   otherwise." There is, however, an exception to the Commission's rule that
   permits a party to deliver unsolicited advertisements to persons with whom
   it has an established business relationship if certain conditions are met
   (i.e., the sender obtained the number of the facsimile machine either (i)
   through a voluntary communication by the recipient directly to the sender
   within the context of the established business relationship, or (ii)
   through a directory, advertisement, or site on the Internet to which the
   recipient voluntarily agreed to make available its facsimile number for
   public distribution).

   4. On November 14, 2007, in response to one or more consumer complaints
   alleging that Advanced Steel had faxed unsolicited advertisements, the
   Enforcement Bureau ("Bureau") issued a citation to Advanced Steel,
   pursuant to section 503(b)(5) of the Act. The Bureau cited Advanced Steel
   for using a telephone facsimile machine, computer, or other device, to
   send unsolicited advertisements for unclaimed steel buildings, in
   violation of section 227 of the Act and the Commission's related rules and
   orders. The citation warned Advanced Steel that subsequent violations
   could result in the imposition of monetary forfeitures of up to $11,000
   per violation, and included a copy of the consumer complaints that formed
   the basis of the citation. The citation informed Advanced Steel that
   within thirty (30) days of the date of the citation, it could either
   request an interview with Commission staff, or provide a written statement
   responding to the citation. Advanced Steel did not request an interview or
   otherwise respond to the citation.

   5. Following the issuance of the citation, the Commission received
   complaints from six consumers alleging that Advanced Steel faxed at least
   six unsolicited advertisements to them. These violations, which occurred
   after the Bureau's citation, resulted in the issuance of a Notice of
   Apparent Liability for Forfeiture against Advanced Steel on December 24,
   2008, in the amount of $27,000. The NAL ordered Advanced Steel to either
   pay the proposed forfeiture amount within thirty (30) days or submit
   evidence or arguments in response to the NAL to show that no forfeiture
   should be imposed or that some lesser amount should be assessed. Advanced
   Steel did not respond to the NAL or pay the proposed forfeiture amount.

   III. DISCUSSION

   6. Section 503(b) of the Act authorizes the Commission to assess a
   forfeiture for each violation of the Act or of any rule, regulation, or
   order issued by the Commission under the Act by a non-common carrier or
   other entity not specifically designated in section 503 of the Act. The
   maximum penalty for such a violation is $11,000 for a violation occurring
   before September 2, 2008, and $16,000 for a violation occurring on or
   after September 2, 2008. In exercising such authority, we are to take into
   account "the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation
   and, with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history
   of prior offenses, ability to pay, and such other matters as justice may
   require."

   7. Although the Commission's Forfeiture Policy Statement does not
   establish a base forfeiture amount for violating the prohibition against
   using a telephone facsimile machine to send unsolicited advertisements,
   the Commission has previously considered $4,500 per unsolicited fax
   advertisement to be an appropriate base amount. In the NAL, we applied
   that base amount to the six apparent violations.

   8. Advanced Steel did not respond to the NAL or pay the proposed
   forfeiture amount. Advanced Steel has failed to identify facts or
   circumstances to persuade us that there is a basis for modifying the
   proposed forfeiture, and we are not aware of any mitigating circumstances
   that would warrant a reduction of the forfeiture penalty. For these
   reasons, and based on the information before us, we hereby impose a total
   forfeiture of $27,000 for Advanced Steel's willful and repeated violation
   of section 227 of the Act and the Commission's related rules and orders,
   as set forth in the NAL.

   IV. ORDERING CLAUSES

   9. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to section 503(b) of the
   Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. S: 503(b), and section
   1.80(f)(4) of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.

   S: 1.80(f)(4), that Advanced Steel Concepts, Inc. IS LIABLE FOR A MONETARY
   FORFEITURE to the United States Government in the sum of $27,000 for
   willfully and repeatedly violating section 227(b)(1)(c) of the
   Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. S: 227(b)(1)(c), section 64.1200(a)(3) of
   the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. S: 64.1200(a)(3), and the related orders
   as described in the paragraphs above.

   10. Payment of the forfeiture shall be made in the manner provided for in
   section 1.80 of the Commission's rules within thirty (30) days of the
   release of this Order. If the forfeiture is not paid within the period
   specified, the case may be referred to the Department of Justice for
   collection pursuant to section 504(a) of the Act. Payment of the
   forfeiture must be made by check or similar instrument, payable to the
   order of the Federal Communications Commission. The payment must include
   the NAL/Account Number and FRN Number referenced above. Payment by check
   or money order may be mailed to Federal Communications Commission, P.O.
   Box 979088, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. Payment by overnight mail may be
   sent to U.S. Bank - Government Lockbox #979088, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005
   Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101. Payment by wire transfer may be
   made to ABA Number 021030004, receiving bank TREAS/NYC, and account number
   27000001. For payment by credit card, an FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice)
   must be submitted.  When completing the FCC Form 159, enter the
   NAL/Account number in block number 23A (call sign/other ID), and enter the
   letters "FORF" in block number 24A (payment type code). Advanced Steel
   will also send electronic notification to Johnny.Drake@fcc.gov on the date
   said payment is made. Requests for full payment under an installment plan
   should be sent to:  Chief Financial Officer -- Financial Operations, 445
   12th Street, S.W., Room 1-A625, Washington, D.C.  20554.   Please contact
   the Financial Operations Group Help Desk at 1-877-480-3201 or Email:
   ARINQUIRIES@fcc.gov with any questions regarding payment procedures. 

   11. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of the Forfeiture Order  shall be
   sent by First Class Mail and Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested to
   Advanced Steel, Attn: Michael Hall, 6810 Lyons Technology Parkway, Coconut
   Creek, FL 33073.

   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

   Marlene H. Dortch

   Secretary

   47 U.S.C. S: 227.

   See 47 U.S.C. S: 503(b)(1). The Commission has the authority under this
   section of the Act to assess a forfeiture against any person who has
   "willfully or repeatedly failed to comply with any of the provisions of
   this Act or of any rule, regulation, or order issued by the Commission
   under this Act ...."; see also 47 U.S.C. S: 503(b)(5) (stating that the
   Commission has the authority under this section of the Act to assess a
   forfeiture penalty against any person who does not hold a license, permit,
   certificate, or other authorization issued by the Commission or an
   applicant for any of those listed instrumentalities so long as such person
   (A) is first issued a citation of the violation charged; (B) is given a
   reasonable opportunity for a personal interview with an official of the
   Commission, at the field office of the Commission nearest to the person's
   place of residence; and (C) subsequently engages in conduct of the type
   described in the citation).

   See Advanced Steel Concepts, Inc., Notice of Apparent Liability for
   Forfeiture, 23 FCC Rcd 18559 (2008)("NAL").

   47 U.S.C. S: 227(b)(1)(C); 47 C.F.R. S: 64.1200(a)(3).

   See 47 U.S.C. S: 227(a)(4); 47 C.F.R. S: 64.1200(f)(13).

   An "established business relationship" is defined as a prior or existing
   relationship formed by a voluntary two-way communication "with or without
   an exchange of consideration, on the basis of an inquiry, application,
   purchase or transaction by the business or residential subscriber
   regarding products or services offered by such person or entity, which
   relationship has not been previously terminated by either party." See 47
   U.S.C. S: 227(a)(2); see also 47 C.F.R. S: 64.1200(f)(5).

   See 47 U.S.C. S: 227(b)(1)(C); 47 C.F.R. S: 64.1200(a)(3)(i), (ii).

   Citation from Kurt A. Schroeder, Deputy Chief, Telecommunications
   Consumers Division, Enforcement Bureau, File No. EB-07-TC-13331, issued to
   Advanced Steel on November 14, 2007.

   See 47 U.S.C. S: 503(b)(5) (authorizing the Commission to issue citations
   to persons who do not hold a license, permit, certificate, or other
   authorization issued by the Commission or an applicant for any of those
   listed instrumentalities for violations of the Act or of the Commission's
   rules and orders).

   Bureau staff mailed the citation to the following address: Advanced Steel,
   Attn: Michael Hall, 6810 Lyons Technology Parkway, Coconut Creek, FL
   33073.

   See n.3 supra; see also 47 U.S.C. S: 503(b)(1).

   Section 503(b)(2)(C) provides for forfeitures of up to $10,000 for each
   violation in cases not covered by subparagraph (A) or (B), which address
   forfeitures for violations by licensees and common carriers, among others.
   See 47 U.S.C. S: 503(b). In accordance with the inflation adjustment
   requirements contained in the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996,
   Pub. L. 104-134, Sec. 31001, 110 Stat. 1321, the Commission implemented an
   increase of the maximum statutory forfeiture under section 503(b)(2)(C)
   first to $11,000 and more recently to $16,000. See 47 C.F.R. S:1.80(b)(3);
   Amendment of Section 1.80 of the Commission's Rules and Adjustment of
   Forfeiture Maxima to Reflect Inflation, 15 FCC Rcd 18221 (2000)(forfeiture
   maximum for this type of violator set at $11,000); Amendment of Section
   1.80(b) of the Commission's Rules and Adjustment of Forfeiture Maxima to
   Reflect Inflation, 19 FCC Rcd 10945 (2004) (amendment of section 1.80(b)
   to reflect inflation left the forfeiture maximum for this type of violator
   at $11,000); Amendment of Section 1.80(b) of the Commission's Rules,
   Adjustment of Forfeiture Maxima to Reflect Inflation, 23 FCC Rcd 9845
   (2008) (amendment of section 1.80(b) to reflect inflation increased the
   forfeiture maximum for this type of violator to $16,000).

   See 47 U.S.C. S: 503(b)(2)(D); see also The Commission's Forfeiture Policy
   Statement and Amendment of Section 1.80 of the Rules to Incorporate the
   Forfeiture Guidelines, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 17087, 17100-01 para.
   27 (1997) (Forfeiture Policy Statement), recon. denied, 15 FCC Rcd 303
   (1999).

   See  Get-Aways, Inc., Notice of Apparent Liability For Forfeiture, 15 FCC
   Rcd 1805 (1999); Get-Aways, Inc., Forfeiture Order, 15 FCC Rcd 4843
   (2000); see also US Notary, Inc., Notice of Apparent Liability for
   Forfeiture, 15 Rcd 16999 (2000); US Notary, Inc., Forfeiture Order, 16 FCC
   Rcd 18398 (2001); Tri-Star Marketing, Inc., Notice of Apparent Liability
   For Forfeiture, 15 FCC Rcd 11295 (2000); Tri-Star Marketing, Inc.,
   Forfeiture Order, 15 FCC Rcd 23198 (2000).

   47 U.S.C. S: 504(a).

   (...continued from previous page)

                                                              (continued....)

   Federal Communications Commission FCC 10-170

                                       2

   Federal Communications Commission FCC 10-170