Wisconsin Bell Tells SCOTUS Fraud Law Not Applicable to E-Rate

Wisconsin Bell Inc. told the US Supreme Court that it should reverse a decision that revived a False Claims Act suit alleging fraud under a Federal Communications Commission program because the law doesn’t apply to private funds.

The Supreme Court’s decision in this case could affect the reach of the FCA and who can be a proper defendant.

The E-Rate program, which helps schools and libraries afford telecommunications and internet services, is funded by private money, and therefore any alleged misconduct didn’t cost the government “a single penny,” the AT&T subsidiary told the Supreme Court in its opening brief filed ...