Justices to Weigh What’s a Government Dollar in FCC Fraud Case

The US Supreme Court on Monday will hear Wisconsin Bell Inc. argue that a False Claims Act suit accusing the company of defrauding a Federal Communications Commission program should be rejected because the suit doesn’t involve government money.

The AT&T subsidiary contends that the FCC’s E-Rate program, which helps schools and libraries afford telecommunications and internet services, is funded by private telecommunications carriers that make contributions to a fund administered by a trade group’s corporation. Therefore, any alleged misconduct by Wisconsin Bell couldn’t have harmed the government, the company has argued.

A Wisconsin Bell victory could limit the FCA’s reach, ...