FCC Suspends Seven Convicted Criminals from Universal Service Fund Programs

FCC Headlines

Filed April 7th, 2026

Detected April 7th, 2026

Summary

The FCC Enforcement Bureau has suspended seven individuals with criminal convictions from participating in Universal Service Fund programs. The named individuals—Donatus Anyanwu, Shawn Clemmons, Kenneth Collura, John Comito, Charles Jones, Mark Whitaker, and Donna Woods—are barred from receiving USF funds through the Rural Health Care, E-Rate, and Lifeline programs. These enforcement actions follow criminal convictions and prohibit program participation.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The FCC has issued suspension orders for seven individuals with criminal convictions, barring them from participating in Universal Service Fund programs. Each individual notice documents specific criminal convictions that form the basis for program exclusion. The affected programs include Rural Health Care (healthcare telecommunications subsidies), E-Rate (schools and libraries), and Lifeline (low-income consumer subsidies).

Telecommunications companies, healthcare providers, schools, and libraries receiving USF funds must verify their participant rosters do not include these suspended individuals. Program administrators should implement enhanced screening procedures to prevent fund disbursements to prohibited parties. Non-compliance with suspension orders may result in additional FCC enforcement action.

What to do next

Audit current participant lists against the suspension list
Conduct enhanced due diligence on program eligibility
Report any disbursements to suspended individuals to FCC

Penalties

Suspension from USF program participation; prohibited from receiving Rural Health Care, E-Rate, and Lifeline funds

Source document (simplified)

Full Title: FCC Suspends Seven Convicted Criminals from Universal Service Fund Programs
Document Type: News Release
Bureau(s): Enforcement Media Relations