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About POGO's Federal Contractor Misconduct Database (FCMD)

The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

AT&T Inc.

False Claims Involving the E-Rate Program

Date: 02/13/2009 (Date of Announcement)

Misconduct Type: Consumer Affairs

Enforcement Agency: FCC

Contracting Party: None

Court Type: Civil

Amount: $8,266,414

Disposition: Settlement

Synopsis: AT&T Technical Services Corp. (AT&T-TSCO) paid over $8.2 million as part of a civil settlement relating to allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act in connection with the Federal Communication Commission's E-Rate program, which uses funds collected from customers to provide Internet service to needy schools and libraries. AT&T-TSCO was alleged to have engaged in non-competitive bidding practices for E-Rate contracts, claimed and received E-rate funds for goods and services that were ineligible under the program, overbilled the E-Rate program for services provided, and facilitated a payment or profit to the applicant from E-Rate funds.