FCC fines for unauthorized carrier changes and consumer billing

Fri Apr 23 16:47:38 UTC 2021

On Fri, 23 Apr 2021, Dan Hollis wrote:
> On Fri, 23 Apr 2021, Eric Kuhnke wrote:
>> Did the FCC ever collect its $50 million from "Sandwich Isles
>> Telecommunications" for blatant fraud?  At this scale I wonder how or why
>> certain people are not in federal prison.
>
> FCC is not law enforcement. The FTC can send people to prison. The FCC can 
> only send press releases.

Neither FCC nor FTC can send people to prison. Only the Department of 
Justice can criminally prosecute people (or corporations, i.e. WORLDCOM, 
ENRON, etc) in the U.S. Federal system.  States and other countries vary.

FCC can deny future licenses and make things difficult for long-term 
carriers. Most scammers declare bankruptcy or just never pay.

https://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/fcc-fine-enforcement-scrutiny-216121
FCC proposes millions in fines, collects $0
November 23, 2015