Dish Hit With Record $280 Million Fine for Illegal Robocalls
- More than $1 billion penalties were sought in Illinois trial
- Company blamed contractors, subcontractors for most bad calls
A Dish Network Corp. field service specialist installs a satellite television system at a residence in Downey, Calif.
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Dish Network Corp. must pay $280 million to the U.S. and four states for using robocalls to consumers on do-not-call lists, marking what the government says is a record fine for telemarketing violations.
U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough issued the order Monday, directing the company to pay $168 million to the federal government and $84 million to California, Illinois, North Carolina and Ohio for federal law violations. An additional $28 million in fines was awarded to California, North Carolina and Ohio for violations of state law.