On May 19, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that Sprint has agreed to pay a $7.5 million fine to resolve charges that the mobile wireless provider failed to honor consumer requests to opt out of phone and text marketing communications. The agreement is the largest Do-Not-Call settlement that the FCC has ever reached. In addition to the payment, Sprint will implement a two-year plan to protect consumer privacy and prevent unwanted telemarketing calls. In 2011, Sprint agreed to a $400,000 settlement over complaints that it made telemarketing calls to consumers who had requested to be placed on the company’s Do-Not-Call list. Besides the $7.5 million, Sprint also agreed to the following relief in a consent decree with the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau:
- it will develop a compliance plan as well as operating procedures designed to ensure compliance with all company-specific Do-Not-Call rules;
- it will designate a senior corporate manager as a Compliance Officer;
- it will implement a training program for its employees and contractors; and
- it will issue regular progress reports to the FCC.
PartnerScott has focused on complex commercial litigation and arbitration involving advertising and marketing law, class action defense, administrative investigations, contractual disputes, consumer fraud, and business ...