FCC proposes $82 million fine against robocaller

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing an $82 million fine against an individual who allegedly made millions of illegal automated sales calls.

{mosads}The commission is looking to levy the massive fine against Philip Roesel and his company, Wilmington Insurance Quotes. According to the agency, Roesel made 21 million automated calls, or “robocalls,” attempting to sell health insurance.

FCC commissioners quoted Roesel as saying “the dumber, the more broke, the better” in regard to whom he targeted with his robocalls.

“This unconscionable statement is among the many reasons I support today’s action and the significant financial penalty associated with it,” Democratic Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said during Thursday’s open meeting at the FCC.

Roesel’s robocalls allegedly focused on vulnerable groups including the elderly and the sick, as well as low-income families.

The FCC noted that a medical paging service said Roesel’s robocalls were so voluminous that they disrupted its network and could have inhibited medical care providers’ ability to help their patients.  

“This adversely harmed emergency communication between doctors, EMS and other first responders,” Cleburne said. “This could have risked lives.”

The proposed fine is part of the FCC’s efforts to crackdown on robocalls. Earlier in the year, the commission proposed a $120 million fine against another alleged robocall violator.

“[This fine] sends yet another message to illegal robocallers,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said. “We will do everything in our power to put you out of business.”