Features

California regulators fine Qwest $20 million

The Associated Press
Friday October 25, 2002

 

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.