Home / Business and Economy / Supreme Court to Hear FCC Fines Dispute
Supreme Court to Hear FCC Fines Dispute
10 Jan
Summary
- Supreme Court will hear case on FCC fines for data sharing.
- Carriers argue FCC exceeded constitutional authority with fines.
- Case tests agency enforcement versus jury trial rights.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to review a critical challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) enforcement powers. The case involves substantial fines totaling nearly $200 million imposed on major wireless carriers for allegedly selling customer location data without consent. The core of the dispute questions whether the FCC's method of assessing penalties before a full trial infringes upon the constitutional right to a jury.
Legal challenges arose after the FCC levied fines, including $80 million for T-Mobile, $57 million for AT&T, and nearly $47 million for Verizon. These penalties sparked conflicting rulings in federal appellate courts, with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the FCC's actions while the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the carriers, citing a violation of jury trial rights.
This case represents the latest instance where the Supreme Court, with its conservative majority, has scrutinized the expansive authority of federal agencies. Previous rulings have favored a more limited view of agency power, notably in a case challenging the Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement practices. The Supreme Court is expected to issue its decision by the end of June.
