Notice of Suspension and of Proposed Debarment File No. EB-03-IH-0684

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Enforcement Bureau (“Bureau”) gives notice to Mr. John Henry Weaver's suspension from the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism. Additionally, the Bureau gives notice that debarment proceeding are commencing against him.

DATES:

Opposition requests must be received by April 15, 2005. However, an opposition request by the party to be suspended must be received 30 days from the receipt of suspension letter or April 15, 2005, whichever comes first. The Bureau will decide any opposition request for reversal or modification of suspension or debarment within 90 days of its receipt of such requests.

ADDRESSES:

Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554; Federal Communications Commission, 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, Maryland 20743.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Diana Lee, Federal Communications Commission, Enforcement Bureau, Investigations and Hearings Division, Room 4-A265, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. Diana Lee can be contacted on (202) 418-1420 or by e-mail at diana.lee@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Bureau has suspension and debarment authority under 47 CFR 521 and 47 CFR 0.111(a)(14). Suspension will help to ensure that the party to be suspended cannot continue to benefit from the schools and libraries mechanism pending resolution of the debarment process. Attached is the suspension letter, Notice of Suspension and of Proposed Debarment Proceedings. DA05-607, which was mailed to Mr. John Henry Weaver and released on March 8, 2005. The letter (1) gives notice of the suspension and proposed debarment; (2) gives the reasons for the proposed debarment; (3) explains the debarment procedures, and (4) describes the potential effect of debarment. The complete text of the suspension letter is available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. In addition, the complete text of this letter may be retrieved from the FCC's Web site at http://www.fcc.gov. The text may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, BCPI, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B400, Washington, DC 20554, telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-5563, or via e-mail fcc@bcpiweb.com.

The suspension letter follows:

March 8, 2005.

Via Certified Mail

Return Receipt Requested

John Henry Weaver

146 Weldon Drive

York, PA 17404

Re: Notice of Suspension and of Proposed Debarment; File No. EB-03-IH-0684

Dear Mr. Weaver: The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) has received notice of your March 1, 2005 conviction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 371 and 666 for conspiracy to engage in bribery in a federally funded program. Consequently, pursuant to 47 CFR 54.521, this letter constitutes official notice of your suspension from the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism. In addition, the Enforcement Bureau (“Bureau”) hereby notifies you that we are commencing debarment proceedings against you.

I. Notice of Suspension

Pursuant to section 54.521(a)(4) of the Commission's rules. your conviction requires the Bureau to suspend you from participating in any activities associated with or related to the schools and libraries fund mechanism, including the receipt of funds or discounted services through the schools and libraries fund mechanism, or consulting with, assisting, or advising applicants or service providers regarding the schools and libraries support mechanism. Your suspension becomes effective upon the earlier of your receipt of this letter or publication of notice in the Federal Register.

Suspension is immediate pending the Bureau's final debarment determination. You may contest this suspension or the scope of this suspension by filing arguments in opposition to the suspension, with any relevant documentation. Your request must be received within 30 days after you receive this letter or after notice is published in the Federal Register whichever comes first. Such requests, however, will not ordinarily be granted. The Bureau may reverse or limit the scope of suspension only upon a finding of extraordinary circumstances. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the Bureau will decide any request for reversal or modification of suspension within 90 days of its receipt of such request.

II. Notice of Proposed Debarment

A. Reasons for and Cause of Debarment

Commission rules establish procedures to prevent persons who have “defrauded the government or engaged in similar acts through activities associated with or related to the schools and libraries support mechanism” from receiving the benefits associated with that program. On March 1, 2005, you were convicted based on a December 8, 2003 plea of guilty to participating in a conspiracy with Ronald R. Morrett, Jr. (“Morrett”) of EMO Communications, Inc. (“EMO”). You admitted to the following acts: (1) Receiving $1.9 million in kickback payments from Morrett while you were responsible for certifying Morrett and EMO had performed work specified in a contract that is 80% funded by the federal E-rate program; and (2) concealing those payments by causing some of the payments to be funneled through various bank accounts belonging to third parties. These actions constitute the conduct or transactions upon which this debarment proceeding is based. Moreover, your conviction on the basis of these acts falls within the categories of causes for debarment defined in section 54.521(c) of the Commission's rules. Therefore, pursuant to section 54.521(a)(4) of the Commission's rules, your conviction requires the Bureau to commence debarment proceedings against you.

B. Debarment Procedures

You may contest debarment or the scope of the proposed debarment by filing arguments and any relevant documentation within 30 calendar days of the earlier of the receipt of this letter or of publication in the Federal Register. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the Bureau will debar you. Within 90 days of receipt of any opposition to your suspension and proposed debarment, the Bureau, in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, will provide you with notice of its decision to debar. If the Bureau decides to debar you, its decision will become effective upon the earlier of your receipt of a debarment notice or publication of its decision in the Federal Register.

C. Effect of Debarment

If and when your debarment becomes effective, you will be prohibited from participating in activities associated with or related to the schools and libraries support mechanism for at least three years from the date of debarment. The Bureau may, if necessary to protect the public interest, extend the debarment period.

Please direct any responses to the following address: Diana Lee, Federal Communications Commission, Enforcement Bureau, Investigations and Hearings Division, Room 4-C443, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington DC 20554.

If you submit your response via hand-delivery or non-United States Postal Service delivery (Federal Express, DHL, etc.), please send your response to Ms. Lee at the following address: Federal Communications Commission, 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Lee via mail, by telephone at (202) 418-1420 or by e-mail at diana.lee@fcc.gov. If Ms. Lee is unavailable, you may contact Hillary DeNigro by telephone at (202) 418-1420 and by e-mail at hillary.denigro@fcc.gov.

Sincerely yours,

William H. Davenport,

Chief, Investigations and Hearings Division, Enforcement Bureau.

cc: Gerald Lord, Miller, Poole & Lord, LLP

Kristy Carroll, USAC (E-mail)

Marty Carlson, United States Attorney, Middle District of Pennsylvania (E-mail)