November 7, 2002

The Michigan Public Service Commission today fined America's Digital Satellite Telephone, Inc. $40,000 for violations of the Michigan Telecommunications Act and awarded $20,000 of the fine to the complainant.  The remaining $20,000 shall be payable to the State of Michigan.  The Commission also directed the company to pay $1,057.56 in restitution to the complainant.  ADST is directed to make payment and restitution within 30 days.  The Commission assigned 50% of the fine to the complainant under a provision of the MTA, as a result of the complainant having his interLATA and intraLATA telephone service slammed.  Slamming refers to the unauthorized switching of a telephone customer's telephone service provider, in violation of the MTA.

Mr. Patrick LaCross filed a complaint against ADST on June 26, 2002, alleging that his interLATA and intraLATA telephone services were switched without his permission, to ADST.  ADST failed to answer the complaint or appear at the public hearing.

ADST is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Consumer and Industry Services.


Case No. U-13457

*InterLATA telephone service involves calls placed between LATAs, while intraLATA telephone service involves calls placed within a LATA. InterLATA and intraLATA calls are long distance calls.   A LATA is a local access transport area and there are five LATAs in Michigan:  the Detroit LATA, the Saginaw LATA, the Grand Rapids LATA, the Lansing LATA and the Upper Peninsula LATA.

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