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DAFederal CommunicationsCommission
Before the
Federal CommunicationsCommission
Washington, DC 20554
In the Matter of
M Williams
1
Illegal Receipt of Duplicate
Lifeline Support
)
)
) File No.: EB-13-IH-0242
)
)
)
CITATIONANDORDER
Adopted: March 14, 2013 Released: March 14, 2013
By the Chief, Investigations and Hearings Division, Enforcement Bureau:
1. This is an official CITATIONANDORDER issued pursuant to Section 503(b)(5) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Communications Act),
2
to M Williams ( . Williams or
“you”) for violations of the Federal Communications Commission’s rules for the Universal Service Lifeline
Program, which helps qualifying low income consumers get access to phone service.
3
2. According to our records, you currently receive Lifeline-supported service on nine
customer accounts from the following companies: Assist Wireless, LLC; Budget PrePay, Inc. d/b/a
Budget Mobile; Cintex Wireless, LLC; Conexions, LLC d/b/a Conexion Wireless; Global Connection Inc.
of America d/b/a Stand Up Wireless; TAG Mobile, LLC; Telrite Corporation d/b/a Life Wireless; and
Virgin Mobile USA, LLC d/b/a Assurance Wireless. As you should know, your household can have only
one Lifeline-supported phone service.
4
When you signed up for Lifeline-supported phone service,
you should have signed a form where you certified, under penalty of perjury, that you and other members
of your household do not already have Lifeline-supported phone service.
5
You also should have certified
that you were eligible for Lifeline service, and that all of the information in your application was
truthful.
6
3. By obtaining Lifeline service from multiple providers, you violated the rule limiting each
household to only one Lifeline-supported phone service, and you apparently made multiple false
1
The name of the recipient of this Citation and Order has been redacted in part to protect the recipient’s personal
privacy interests. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a); see also 47 C.F.R. § 0.455(g) (“To the extent required to prevent a clearly
unwarranted invasion of personal privacy . . . the Commission may delete identifying details or confidential
information when it makes available or publishes any document described in this section.”). We take this action
because, in this case, the individual’s identity has no bearing or effect on the subject matter of the document, and
there is no need for the general public to know it. Therefore, at this juncture, the interest in protecting the private
citizen’s right to be secure in his or her personal affairs outweighs any purported interest the public might have in
knowing the individual’s identifying information.
2
47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(5).
3
The Commission is issuing this Citation and Order pursuant to Section 503(b)(5) of the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(5).
4
See 47 U.S.C. § 54.410(d)(3).
5
See 47 C.F.R. § 54.410(d)(3)(vi).
6
See 47 C.F.R. § 54.410(d)(3).
DAFederal CommunicationsCommission
2
certifications that are punishable by law. Therefore, we ORDER you to cease and desist from
applying for—or receiving—more than one Lifeline-supported phone service.
4. In addition, you should have received a letter from the Universal Service Administrative
Company dated October 10, 2012 directing you to choose a single Lifeline service provider and explaining
that you would no longer receive benefits for more than one Lifeline-supported phone service.
5. If you continue to violate the CommunicationsAct or the Commission’s rules in any
manner described in this letter after you receive this Citation and Order, the Federal
CommunicationsCommissionmay impose monetary fines of up to $16,000 for each violation and
up to $112,500 for a single continuing violation.
7
6. You may respond to this Citation and Order within 30 days from the date of this letter by
requesting an interview or by submitting a written response explaining your position. If you want to
schedule an interview, please contact Mindy Littell at (202) 418-1420. The interview can be conducted in
person at the FCC Field Office that is closest to your residence or by telephone with an FCC
representative in Washington, D.C. If you prefer to send a written response, you must send it within 30
days of the date of this letter to:
Mindy Littell
Investigations & Hearings Division
Enforcement Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
Street, SW, Rm. 4-C330
Washington, DC 20554
Re: EB File No.: EB-13-IH-0242
7. However you respond, you should explain the actions that you are taking to ensure that
you do not violate the FCC’s rules governing the Lifeline program.
8. The Commission’s staff will use all relevant material information before it, including
information that you disclose in your interview or written statement, to determine what, if any,
enforcement action is required to ensure your compliance with the Communications Act and the
Commission’s rules.
9. The knowing and willful making of any false statement, or the concealment of any
material fact, in reply to this Citation and Order is punishable by fine or imprisonment under 18 U.S.C.
§ 1001.
10. Under the Privacy Act of 1974, any statement or information you provide may be used by
the Commission to determine if further enforcement action is required.
8
Section 1.17 of the Rules also
requires that you provide truthful and accurate statements to the Commission.
9
Any knowingly or willfully
false statement, or concealment of any material fact, made in reply to this Citation and Order is punishable
by fine or imprisonment.
10
7
See 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(b)(3).
8
See Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(3).
9
See 47 C.F.R. § 1.17.
10
See 18 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.
DAFederal CommunicationsCommission
3
11. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request.
Include a description of the accommodation needed, including as much detail as possible. Also include a
way we can contact you if we need more information. Please allow at least five (5) calendar days advance
notice; last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Requests may be submitted by
email to fcc504@fcc.gov or by phone to the Commission’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau:
For sign language interpreters, CART, and other reasonable accommodations:
202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty);
For accessible format materials (braille, large print, electronic files, and audio format):
202-418-0531 (voice), 202-418-7365 (tty).
12. IT IS ORDERED that pursuant to Sections 4(i), 4(j), and 403 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended, M Williams must cease and desist from applying for—or receiving—more
than one Lifeline-supported phone service.
13. IT IS FURTHERORDERED that a copy of this Citation and Order shall be sent by
email, First Class U.S. Mail, return receipt requested, and Certified Mail to M Williams at
address of record.
FEDERALCOMMUNICATIONSCOMMISSION
Theresa Z. Cavanaugh
Chief, Investigations & Hearings Division
Enforcement Bureau