Wisconsin Bell Defeats Suit Alleging E-Rate Program Fraud (1)

Wisconsin Bell Inc. beat a whistleblower’s claims that it violated the False Claims Act by overcharging schools and libraries for telecommunications and information services under the Federal Communications Commission’s E-rate program, a Wisconsin district court said.

Whistleblower Todd Heath failed to show that Wisconsin Bell submitted claims for subsidies while falsely certifying compliance with a “lowest corresponding price” rule, Judge Lynn Adelman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin said Wednesday.

The rule is violated if a provider charges E-rate customers a higher rate than it charged similarly situated customers for similar services, the court said. ...