{"id":2006,"date":"2023-06-08T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inversetech.com\/?p=2006"},"modified":"2023-06-06T14:45:55","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T18:45:55","slug":"the-great-telecom-rip-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inversetech.com\/the-great-telecom-rip-off\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Telecom Rip-Off"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]

If anyone wants to know why TEM (technology\/telecom expense management) exists or why it’s a good idea, the article\u00a0“The Great Telecom Rip-Off”<\/em>\u00a0by David Rosen, published online at\u00a0COUNTERPUNCH 3\/23\/23 explains it. We are providing the link directly to that article here\u00a0https:\/\/www.counterpunch.org\/2023\/03\/23\/the-great-telecom-rip-off-2\/<\/a>\u00a0if you want the in-depth report. Or, read on for a few excerpts, which are frankly frightening. While most of this applies to consumers, the article also covers universities and municipalities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cOver the last few decades, the leading telecom companies have engaged in a host of schemes to swindle their customers and the American taxpayer. One involves overcharging customers for which they have been repeatedly sued. Others involve deceptive pricing practices, questionable accounting schemes, substitution of inferior wireless (e.g., 5G) for fiber-optic system upgrades, capture of federal and state regulatory agencies and the \u201cderegulation\u201d of the telecom industry. These schemes fueled the telecom swindle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn September 2020, the State of California won a\u00a0$116 million\u00a0suit against Verizon ($68 million)\u00a0and AT&T\u00a0($48 million). The suit was brought by a \u201cwhistleblower,\u201d OnTheGo Wireless, LLC, and thirty government entities claiming under the California False Claims Act that the telecoms overcharged the state and government customers for wireless services. \u00a0Some 300 state and local entities will recover money for the excessive payments, including the\u00a0State of California, state universities as well as city and county governments.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNew Networks Institute\u2019s (NNI) Bruce Kushnik identifies a series of schemes telecoms use to execute overcharges, including:<\/p>\n