NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
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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:
May 5, 2014 Mark Wigfield, 202-418-0253
E-mail: mark.wigfield@fcc.gov
FCC PLANS $3.9 MILLION FINE AGAINST COLORADO COMPANY FOR DECEPTIVELY 
SWITCHING CUSTOMERS’ SERVICES AND ILLEGAL BILLING PRACTICES
Long Distance Phone Provider Allegedly Preyed On Elderly Consumers
Washington, DC – The Federal Communications Commission announces that it plans to fine Central Telecom 
Long Distance, Inc. $3.9 million for allegedly deceiving consumers to switch their long distance service, 
billing customers for unauthorized charges, and failing to clearly and plainly describe charges on customers’ 
bills. Many of these actions victimized elderly and disabled consumers.  
The FCC found that telemarketers for Central Telecom, a Colorado Springs, CO company, allegedly tricked 
consumers into believing that the telemarketers were calling on behalf of the consumers’ existing telephone 
companies, then changed the consumers’ preferred carriers without their authorization.  Many consumers 
stated in their complaints that they had never heard of Central or did not intend to sign up for its services.
“Deceptive marketing practices are bad enough, but when a company preys on our most vulnerable 
communities, that conduct goes from unacceptable to reprehensible,” said Travis LeBlanc, Acting Chief of 
the Enforcement Bureau.
In many instances, Central and its representatives appear to have exploited elderly or disabled consumers’ 
obvious confusion and inability to understand the sales pitch they heard and the questions they were asked.  
The FCC emphasized that this conduct was “particularly egregious,” and it noted that a sizable fine was 
warranted in part because of the “substantial harm” that Central caused to the public. One particular 
complaint was filed on behalf of a deceased elderly grandmother whom Central continued to bill for months 
after she died and even after her telephone was disconnected.
The Notice of Apparent Liability is available at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-14-
58A1.pdf
-FCC-