The FCC rejected a petition to reconsider its $225 million fine against telemarketers for transmitting approximately 1 billion robocalls to sell short-term health insurance plans. The robocalls falsely claimed to offer health insurance plans from well-known health insurance companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna.
“Junk calls are not only annoying, but also put consumers at risk of falling prey to scams,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “We’re continuing our fight against robocalls, and won’t stop until we get all of them off our networks.”
The parties, John C. Spiller and Jakob A. Mears, used business names including Rising Eagle and JSquared Telecom. They asked the agency to reconsider the penalty. But reconsideration is only given if the parties offer new facts that were not available when the agency initially proposed the fine.
The FCC will refer the matter to the Department of Justice for collection. The DOJ has recently filed suit to collect a $9.9 million FCC fine for illegal robocalls and more recently a $120 million FCC fine for illegal spoofing. Rosenworcel has also proposed to Congress that the Commission be given its own authority to take robocallers to court if they fail to pay an FCC fine.
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