*Pages 1--1 from  Microsoft Word - 26370.doc*
 NEWS  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974). 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  March  31,  2003  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT: 
 John  Winston  (202)  418-  7450 


 FCC  FINES  WEBNET  $1,200,000  FOR  SLAMMING  VIOLATIONS 


 Washington,  D.  C.  -  Today  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  released  an  order  imposing  a  $1,200,000  forfeiture  against  WebNet  Communications,  Inc.  for  willful  or 
 repeated  violations  of  the  Communications  Act  and  the  Commission’s  rules  against  slamming.  Slamming  is  the  illegal  practice  of  switching  consumers'  preferred  long 
 distance  or  other  telephone  service  providers  without  their  consent. 
 The  Commission  found  that  WebNet  had  engaged  in  a  pattern  of  intentional  and  egregious  misconduct,  such  as  the  gross  deficiencies  in  WebNet's  verification 
 procedures,  which  demonstrated  a  disregard  for  the  Commission's  rules. 
 This  proceeding  represents  the  first  joint  federal/  state  effort  against  a  company  engaged  in  slamming.  Fourteen  state  agencies  joined  the  Commission  in  this  investigation: 
 Alabama,  Delaware,  Florida,  Illinois,  Maine,  Maryland,  Missouri,  Montana,  Ohio,  South  Carolina,  South  Dakota,  Washington  and  Wisconsin,  along  with  the  District  of  Columbia. 


 WebNet  is  a  corporation  with  its  principal  place  of  business  in  McLean,  Virginia. 


 Action  by  the  Commission  March  26,  2003,  by  Order  of  Forfeiture  (FCC  03-  67).  Chairman  Powell;  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps,  Martin,  and  Adelstein. 
 File  No.  EB-  01-  TC-  064 
 Enforcement  Bureau  Contacts:  John  Winston  at  (202)  418-  7450  or  Lloyd  Collier  at  (202)  418-  2712. 
1