WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission said Thursday that Ton Services Inc. has agreed to pay $400,000 for not making regular contributions to the universal-service fund and the Telecommunications Relay Service Fund.
Ton provides payphone and calling-card services. The FCC’s Enforcement Office sent a letter of inquiry to Ton in May and recently finalized the consent decree. The consent decree indicates that as of Oct. 1, Ton was caught up on all payments and was in discussions with USAC and the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau “regarding Ton’s claim that it is owed substantial credits for past overpayments to the universal-service fund.”
FCC Chairman Michael Powell said the consent decree and fine showed that the commission was providing good oversight of the universal-service program. “Today’s consent decree involving universal-service fund contribution obligations is one of the latest steps in our campaign to ensure compliance with the commission’s universal-service rules. Over the last year, enforcement actions have resulted in payments or agreements to make payments to the universal-service fund of nearly $20 million.”
