FCC reaches $9.1M settlement with telecom firms over improper billing

The Federal Communications Commission reached a $9.1 million settlement over improper billing charges with two companies that provide telecom services for the hearing and speech impaired.

In addition to a fine, the companies, Purple Communications and CSDVRS, will comply with a 5-year FCC compliance plan and repay an FCC fund that subsidizes those telecom services.

The two companies are both telecommunications relay services (TRS), which allow individuals with hearing or seeing problems to make and place phone calls.

{mosads}The FCC fined Purple in 2015 for not verifying customers and submitting improper reimbursement bills to an FCC fund subsidizing TRS services. Compensation is provided to TRS providers based on how many confirmed eligible individuals they provide serve.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Mike O’Rielly unanimously approved the action.