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. Cir. 1974).
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
December 17, 2013 Mark Wigfield, 202-418-0253
E-mail: mark.wigfield@fcc.gov
FCC PROPOSES $3.56 MILLION FINE AGAINST CONSUMER TELCOM, INC., FOR 
DECEPTIVE SLAMMING, CRAMMING, AND BILLING PRACTICES
Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission has proposed $3.56 million in 
fines against Consumer Telcom, Inc. (CTI), for apparently engaging in deceptive marketing 
practices, changing consumers’ preferred long distance carriers without their authorization 
(“slamming”), billing consumers for unauthorized charges (“cramming”), and failing to describe 
telephone charges plainly and clearly as required by federal law.
Numerous consumers complained that CTI’s telemarketers had tricked them into believing that 
the telemarketers were calling on behalf of the consumers’ existing long distance providers.  The 
consumers were then shocked to learn that CTI had switched their preferred long distance carrier 
and billed them for charges they had not authorized.  In many cases, CTI apparently took 
advantage of consumers by masking the true purpose of the call and then profiting from their
obvious confusion about the questions they were asked.  Many of the deceived consumers were
elderly, hearing impaired, or infirm.
The Commission had previously warned carriers that it would take swift and decisive 
enforcement action against companies that engaged in slamming, cramming, and 
misrepresentation.  Today’s proposed forfeiture includes upward adjustments of $2 million that 
reflect the seriousness of CTI’s apparent violations, as well as the fact that many of the 
consumers appeared particularly vulnerable due to their age or disability.
           
-FCC-
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