> It just got harder for the FTC to fine people

Based on the unanimous US Supreme Court decision, they never could in the first place, at least in the particular manner that was challenged.

It'll be up to Congress to explicitly define how big the FTC's teeth are, not the unelected leadership of a regulatory body to decide for themselves. Working as Intended (despite the undesirable end result).

-Matt

On Fri, Apr 23, 2021 at 11:00 AM Patrick W. Gilmore <patrick@ianai.net> wrote:

On Apr 23, 2021, at 12:47 PM, Sean Donelan <sean@donelan.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 23 Apr 2021, Dan Hollis wrote:
>> On Fri, 23 Apr 2021, Eric Kuhnke wrote:
>>> Did the FCC ever collect its $50 million from "Sandwich Isles
>>> Telecommunications" for blatant fraud? At this scale I wonder how or why
>>> certain people are not in federal prison.
>>
>> FCC is not law enforcement. The FTC can send people to prison. The FCC can only send press releases.
>
> Neither FCC nor FTC can send people to prison. Only the Department of Justice can criminally prosecute people (or corporations, i.e. WORLDCOM, ENRON, etc) in the U.S. Federal system. States and other countries vary.
>
> FCC can deny future licenses and make things difficult for long-term carriers. Most scammers declare bankruptcy or just never pay.
>
>
> https://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/fcc-fine-enforcement-scrutiny-216121
> FCC proposes millions in fines, collects $0
> November 23, 2015

It just got harder for the FTC to fine people: https://www.morningbrew.com/daily/stories/2021/04/22/supreme-court-limits-ftcs-ability-recoup-illgotten-gains

--
TTFN,
patrick