Features
California regulators fine Qwest $20 million
SAN FRANCISCO — California regulators fined phone giant Qwest Communications International Inc. and a subsidiary $20.3 million Thursday for switching thousands of Californians’ long-distance service without their permission.
On a 5-0 vote, the Public Utilities Commission ruled the marketing activities of Qwest and LCI International Communications violated the state’s public utilities code.
“This company fixed the system only after regulators started investigating,” PUC President Loretta Lynch said.
The PUC found that Denver-based Qwest “slammed” thousands of Californians by failing to adequately supervise sales agents.