*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 50987.doc* 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: August 12, 2005 Janice Wise: (202) 418- 7450 janice. wise@ fcc. gov FCC PROPOSES ALMOST $1.5 MILLION IN FORFEITURES FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND VIOLATIONS Washington, D. C. – The Federal Communications Commission today issued Notices of Apparent Liability (“ NALs”) totaling almost $1.5 million against two telecommunications carriers for apparently violating Universal Service Fund (“ USF”) and regulatory fee rules. Together with the similar actions taken on July 25, 2005, today’s NALs help level the playing field for all telecommunications carriers by demonstrating a no tolerance policy for any carrier that fails to pay its required USF and other regulatory obligations. Apparent violations like these distort the marketplace by causing carriers in compliance with the requirements to carry a disproportionate share of the costs of funding these programs and frustrate the purposes for which Congress and the Commission established the programs. The USF program ensures that consumers in all regions of the nation have access to affordable, quality telecommunications services. Regulatory fees distribute the cost of certain regulatory activities. Under the Communications Act and the Commission’s rules, every telecommunications carrier that provides interstate service must contribute to these programs on an equitable basis. The two corporations that are the subject of the NALs are Telecom Management, Inc., and OCMC, Inc. By the Commission: FCC 05- 156, 05- 157. Chairman Martin and Commissioners Abernathy, Copps, and Adelstein, August 12, 2005. Enforcement Bureau Contacts: Janice Wise (202) 418- 7450 or Hillary DeNigro (202) 418- 7334 -FCC- 1