Sprint under FCC investigation for ‘outrageous’ misuse of millions of dollars

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Sprint took millions of dollars meant to subsidize phone and internet service for low-income consumers, even while those consumers were not using the service, according to the Federal Communications Commission. FCC chairman Ajit Pai called it a “careless disregard” for taxpayers and commission rules and called on the agency’s enforcement arm to conduct a full investigation.

“It’s outrageous that a company would claim millions of taxpayer dollars for doing nothing,” Pai said.

Sprint’s absent subscribers represented 10 percent of Lifeline, the FCC says

The FCC’s Lifeline program offers a $9.25-per-month subsidy for low-income consumers on either a phone or broadband plan. But in 2016, under former FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, the commission...

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