WASHINGTON (AP) — Satellite television provider DirecTV Inc. and cable company Comcast will pay out $3.2 million to settle claims that they broke the law by calling people who had asked the companies not to call them again. It's the second time DirecTV has been hit with such a fine.
The Federal Trade Commission made the announcement Thursday.
DirecTV paid a $5.3 million settlement in 2005.
Last month, the FTC sued the nation's second-largest satellite TV provider — Dish Network — for alleged violations of the federal Do Not Call registry. The government accused the Dish Network of making thousands of phone calls to people on the list, and said it is the biggest violator to date based on the number of complaints, more than 20,000, to the agency.
Dish Network, based in Englewood, Colo., has denied the allegations.
Since the registry began in 2003, the FTC has brought more than 40 cases against companies for violations.
More than 167 million phone numbers are on the registry, which prohibits telemarketers from calling numbers on the list. Companies face fines of up to $16,000 for each violation.
Organizations engaged in charitable, political or survey work are exempt. Companies that have an established business relationship with a customer also may call for up to 18 months after the last purchase, payment or delivery.
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