*Pages 1--5 from Microsoft Word - 27279.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 03- 1336 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of Advantage Telecommunications Corp. Complaints Regarding Unauthorized Change of Subscriber’s Telecommunications Carrier ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) IC No. 01- S47491 02- S70225 02- S72457 02- S74485 02- S76304 ORDER Adopted: April 25, 2003 Released: April 30, 2003 By the Acting Deputy Chief, Policy Division, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau: 1. In this Order, we consider the complaints 1 alleging that Advantage Telecommunications Corp. (Advantage) changed Complainants’ telecommunications service providers without obtaining authorization and verification from Complainants in violation of the Commission’s rules. 2 We conclude that Advantage’s actions did result in an unauthorized change in Complainants’ telecommunications service providers and we grant Complainants’ complaints. 2. In December 1998, the Commission released the Section 258 Order in which it adopted rules to implement Section 258 of the Communications Act of 1934 (Act), as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act). 3 Section 258 prohibits the practice of 1 See Appendix A. 2 See 47 C. F. R. §§ 64.1100 – 64.1190. 3 47 U. S. C. § 258( a); Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104- 104, 110 Stat. 56 (1996); Implementation of the Subscriber Carrier Selection Changes Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996; Policies and Rules Concerning Unauthorized Changes of Consumers’ Long Distance Carriers, CC Docket No. 94- 129, Second Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 14 FCC Rcd 1508 (1998) (Section 258 Order), stayed in part, MCI WorldCom v. FCC, No. 99- 1125 (D. C. Cir. May 18, 1999); First Order on Reconsideration, 15 FCC Rcd 8158 (2000); stay lifted, MCI WorldCom v. FCC, No. 99- 1125 (D. C. Cir. June 27, 2000); Third Report and Order and Second Order on Reconsideration, 15 FCC Rcd 15996 (2000), Errata, DA No. 00- 2163 (rel. Sept. 25, 2000), Erratum, DA No. 00- 2192 (rel. Oct. 4, 2000), Order, FCC 01- 67 (rel. Feb. 22, 2001); reconsideration pending. Prior to the adoption of Section 258, the Commission had taken various steps to address the slamming problem. See, e. g., Policies and Rules Concerning Unauthorized Changes of Consumers' Long Distance Carriers, CC Docket No. 94- 129, Report and Order, 10 FCC Rcd 9560 (1995), stayed in part, 11 FCC Rcd 856 (1995); Policies and Rules Concerning Changing Long Distance Carriers, CC Docket No. 91- 64, 7 FCC Rcd 1038 (1992), reconsideration denied, 8 FCC Rcd 3215 (1993); Investigation of Access and Divestiture (continued….) 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 03- 1336 2 “slamming,” the submission or execution of an unauthorized change in a subscriber’s selection of a provider of telephone exchange service or telephone toll service. 4 In the Section 258 Order, the Commission adopted aggressive new rules designed to take the profit out of slamming, broadened the scope of the slamming rules to encompass all carriers, and modified its existing requirements for the authorization and verification of preferred carrier changes. The rules require, among other things, that a carrier receive individual subscriber consent before a carrier change may occur. 5 Pursuant to Section 258, carriers are absolutely barred from changing a customer's preferred local or long distance carrier without first complying with one of the Commission's verification procedures. 6 Specifically, a carrier must: (1) obtain the subscriber's written or electronically signed authorization in a format that meets the requirements of Section 64.1130 authorization; (2) obtain confirmation from the subscriber via a toll- free number provided exclusively for the purpose of confirming orders electronically; or (3) utilize an independent third party to verify the subscriber's order. 7 3. The Commission also has adopted liability rules. These rules require the carrier to absolve the subscriber where the subscriber has not paid his or her bill. In that context, if the subscriber has not already paid charges to the unauthorized carrier, the subscriber is absolved of liability for charges imposed by the unauthorized carrier for service provided during the first 30 days after the unauthorized change. 8 Where the subscriber has paid charges to the unauthorized carrier, the Commission’s rules require that the unauthorized carrier pay 150% of those charges to the authorized carrier, and the authorized carrier shall refund or credit to the subscriber 50% of all charges paid by the subscriber to the unauthorized carrier. 9 Carriers should note that our actions in this Order do not preclude the Commission from taking action, if warranted, pursuant to section 503 of the Act. 10 4. We received Complainants’ complaints alleging that Complainant’s telecommunications services providers had been changed from their authorized carriers to Advantage without Complainants’ authorization. 11 Pursuant to Sections 1.719 and 64.1150 of our (Continued from previous page) Related Tariffs, CC Docket No. 83- 1145, Phase I, 101 F. C. C. 2d 911, 101 F. C. C. 2d 935, reconsideration denied, 102 F. C. C. 2d 503 (1985). 4 47 U. S. C. § 258( a). 5 See 47 C. F. R. § 64.1120( b). 6 47 U. S. C. § 258( a). 7 See 47 C. F. R. § 64.1120( c). Section 64.1130 details the requirements for letter of agency form and content for written or electronically signed authorizations. 47 C. F. R. § 64.1130. 8 See 47 C. F. R. §§ 64.1140, 64.1160. Any charges imposed by the unauthorized carrier on the subscriber for service provided after this 30- day period shall be paid by the subscriber to the authorized carrier at the rates the subscriber was paying to the authorized carrier at the time of the unauthorized change. Id. 9 See 47 C. F. R. §§ 64.1140, 64.1170. 10 See 47 U. S. C. § 503. 11 See Appendix A. 2 Federal Communications Commission DA 03- 1336 3 rules, 12 we notified Advantage of the complaints and Advantage responded. 13 Advantage submitted a third party verification tape as evidence of an authorized change in Complainant’s service provider. Advantage’s sales representative, however, failed to drop off the line during the verification as required by our rules. 14 Also, the verifier did not obtain separate authorizations for each service being sold as required by our rules. 15 Advantage has failed to produce clear and convincing evidence that Complainant authorized a carrier change. 16 Therefore, we find that Advantage’s actions resulted in an unauthorized change in Complainants’ telecommunications service providers and we discuss Advantage’s liability below. 17 5. Advantage has removed all charges incurred for service provided to Complainants for the first thirty days after the alleged unauthorized change in accordance with the Commission’s liability rules. 18 We have determined that Complainant is entitled to absolution for the charges incurred during the first thirty days after the unauthorized change occurred and that neither the authorized carriers nor Advantage may pursue any collection against Complainants for those charges. 19 Any charges imposed by Advantage on the subscriber for service provided after this 30- day period shall be paid by the subscriber to the authorized carrier at the rates the subscriber was paying to the authorized carrier at the time of the unauthorized change. 20 6. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 258 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U. S. C. § 258, and Sections 0.141, 0.361 and 1.719 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 0.141, 0.361, 1.719, the complaints filed by Complainants 21 against Advantage ARE GRANTED. 7. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 64.1170( d) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C. F. R. § 64.1170( d), Complainants are entitled to absolution for the charges incurred during the first thirty days after the unauthorized change occurred to the 12 47 C. F. R. § 1.719 (Commission procedure for informal complaints filed pursuant to Section 258 of the Act); 47 C. F. R. § 64.1150 (procedures for resolution of unauthorized changes in preferred carrier). 13 See Appendix A. 14 See 47 U. S. C. § 64.1120( c)( ii). 15 See 47 C. F. R. § 64.1120( b). 16 See 47 C. F. R. § 64.1150( d). 17 If Complainant is unsatisfied with the resolution of this complaint, Complainant may file a formal complaint with the Commission pursuant to Section 1.721 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C. F. R. § 1.721. Such filing will be deemed to relate back to the filing date of Complainant’s informal complaint so long as the formal complaint is filed within 45 days from the date this order is mailed or delivered electronically to Complainant. See 47 C. F. R. § 1.719. 18 See 47 C. F. R. § 64.1160( b). 19 See 47 C. F. R. § 64.1160( d). 20 See 47 C. F. R. §§ 64.1140, 64.1160. 21 See Appendix A. 3 Federal Communications Commission DA 03- 1336 4 relevant Complainant and neither the authorized carrier nor Advantage may pursue any collection against Complainants for those charges. 8. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Order is effective upon release. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Nancy A. Stevenson, Acting Deputy Chief Policy Division Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 4 Federal Communications Commission DA 03- 1336 5 APPENDIX A INFORMAL COMPLAINT NUMBER DATE OF COMPLAINT DATE OF CARRIER RESPONSE NAME OF AUTHORIZED CARRIER 01- S47491 02- S70225 02- S72457 02- S74485 02- S76304 March 8, 2001 March 20, 2002 April 15, 2002 March 12, 2002 March 7, 2002 May 7, 2001 May 30, 2002 June 17, 2002 July 29, 2002 July 29, 2002 AT& T Corp. AT& T Corp. Sprint Communication AT& T Corp. Global Crossing 5