The Cal. PUC fined NOS Communications and Affinity Network $2.9 m...
The Cal. PUC fined NOS Communications and Affinity Network $2.9 million total under a settlement of slamming, cramming and deceptive marketing charges against the companies. The companies, which were jointly named in the complaint, must also pay $50,000 in…
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restitution to the roughly 1,400 identified victims of the unlawful conduct. The average refund will be about $25. The companies were accused of unauthorized service and billing changes and of misrepresenting the savings customers would enjoy. The complaints alleged that the carriers quoted per-minute rates, but actual bills were calculated by adding in non-usage- related fees under a complex formula of call units. The settlement also requires the carriers to change their sales and marketing practices and report on their compliance. In another matter, the PUC awarded grants totaling $6.83 million for 3 projects to bring telecom services to unserved areas of northern Cal. The projects will bring phone service to Yurok Tribe lands in Humboldt County, deploy wireless infrastructure throughout rural Trinity County and bring wireline and wireless services to the small rural town of Iowa Hill in Placer County. The grants were made under a universal service program established 2 years ago.