No. 21-472

Blanca Telephone Company v. Federal Communications Commission, et al.

Lower Court: Tenth Circuit
Docketed: 2021-09-28
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response WaivedRelisted (2)
Tags: administrative-law appellate-review civil-forfeiture debt-collection due-process false-claims-act rulemaking universal-service-fund
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw Securities JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2022-01-07 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether FCC staff seizure of Universal Service Fund funding via civil forfeiture is 'pure debt collection' under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996

Question Presented (from Petition)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED 1. Whether FCC staff seizure of Universal Service Fund funding via civil forfeiture, a procedure unsupported by rulemaking, is “pure debt collection” under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, Slip Op. App. 21, where the Record shows no outstanding Federal debt and where other circuit courts hold that: the DCIA does not authorize agency debt adjudication; the FCC cannot seize USF funding; the FCC is not directly involved in USF administration; and the USF contains no Federal funds. 2. Whether civil forfeiture is punitive and time barred, Kokesh v. SEC, 187 S. Ct. 1635 (2017); Liu v. SEC, 140 S. Ct. 1936 (2020), when it is undisputed that: the Record shows no outstanding Federal debt; the forfeiture serves multiple law enforcement purposes; excessive financial penalties beyond the purported debt are collected; and the forfeiture exceeds profits. 3. Whether deference to a civil forfeiture which fails to specify a legislative rule prohibition, Slip Op. App. 36, 37 n.17 is proper where the forfeiture order furthers False Claims Act litigation and where uniform appellate precedent holds that deference in rule adjudications denies fair notice.

Docket Entries

2022-01-10
Rehearing DENIED.
2021-12-15
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/7/2022.
2021-12-08
2021-11-15
Petition DENIED.
2021-10-27
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/12/2021.
2021-10-25
Supplemental brief of petitioner Blanca Telephone Company filed. (Distributed)
2021-10-22
Waiver of right of respondent Federal Communications Commission, et al. to respond filed.
2021-09-24
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 28, 2021)

Attorneys

Blanca Telephone Company
Timothy Edward WelchHill & Welch, Petitioner
Timothy Edward WelchHill & Welch, Petitioner
Federal Communications Commission, et al.
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent