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 NEWS  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).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  March  15,  2005  Janice  Wise:  (202)  418-  8165 
 janice.  wise@  fcc.  gov 


 Statement  of  Enforcement  Bureau  Chief  David  H.  Solomon  on  Consent  Decree  Approved  by  Administrative  Law  Judge  in  Hearing  Case  Regarding  the 
 Telecommunications  Relay  Service  Fund  (EB  Docket  No.  02-  149) 
 The  approval  today  by  an  FCC  administrative  law  judge  of  a  Consent  Decree  entered  into  by  the  Enforcement  Bureau  with  Dr.  Raanan  Liebermann  and  the  Publix  Companies  marks  the 
 successful  conclusion  of  a  hearing  proceeding  relating  to  whether  Dr.  Liebermann  and  Publix  received  monies  from  the  Telecommunications  Relay  Service  (TRS)  fund  under  false  pretenses. 
 As  part  of  the  Consent  Decree,  Dr.  Liebermann  and  Publix  agreed  to  relinquish  their  authorization  to  operate  as  a  common  carrier  and  to  reimburse  the  TRS  Fund  Administrator  $7.9 
 million.  They  also  waived  all  claims  to  another  $2.3  million  held  in  escrow  for  their  benefit  by  the  TRS  Administrator. 


 After  an  investigation  that  uncovered  significant  evidence  that  Publix  may  have  falsely  requested  and  received  monies  from  the  TRS  Fund,  the  Enforcement  Bureau  referred  the  matter  to  the 
 Department  of  Justice.  Dr.  Liebermann  and  Publix  Network  Corporation  both  pled  guilty  to:  (1)  making  a  false  statement  to  the  FCC  through  the  TRS  Fund  Administrator  in  violation  of  18 
 U.  S.  C.  §  1001;  and  (2)  engaging  in  an  unlawful  monetary  transaction,  in  violation  of  18  U.  S.  C.  §  1957.  This  Consent  Decree  resolves  an  Order  to  Show  Cause  and  Notice  of  Opportunity  for 
 Hearing  issued  by  the  Commission  to  determine  whether  to  revoke  the  common  carrier  authorization  held  by  Dr.  Liebermann  and  Publix. 


 By  this  Consent  Decree  and  the  criminal  plea  obtained  by  the  Department  of  Justice,  the  Government  has  made  clear  that  it  will  not  countenance  misuse  of  the  TRS  fund,  which  supports 
 important  telecommunications  services  to  persons  with  disabilities. 
 -FCC- 
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