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Federal Contractor Misconduct Database (FCMD)
The federal government routinely awards contracts to companies with
histories of misconduct, including
…
contract fraud and other
violations. POGO believes that providing this website will help to
improve contracting decisions and increase public knowledge of how
the government spends billions of taxpayer dollars each year.
Read more…
Broadband/Video/Wireless Market Collusion
In August 2012, the United States and the State of New York filed a complaint alleging that certain commercial agreements among Verizon Communications, Cellco Partnership (d/b/a Verizon Wireless), Comcast Corporation, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, and Cox Communications unreasonably restrained trade and commerce in violation of the Sherman Act. In December 2011, the companies entered into a series of agreements allowing them to sell bundled offerings that included Verizon Wireless services and a cable company defendant’s residential wireline voice, video, and broadband services. The companies also agreed to jointly research and develop integrated wireline and wireless telecommunications technologies. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Attorney General of New York alleged that aspects of these agreements were likely to unreasonably restrain competition in local markets for broadband, video, and wireless services. A final judgment in the case amends these agreements so as to preserve competition between Verizon and the cable defendants. Verizon is also required to provide regular reports to the DOJ to ensure that the collaboration does not harm competition.
- Misconduct Type
- Antitrust
- Enforcement Agency
- Multiple Agencies
- Contracting Party
- None
- Court Type
- Civil
- Disposition
- Settlement
- Date of Complaint
- 8/16/2012