US supreme court backs FCC in clash with wireless carriers over fines

Justices uphold FCC authority to impose in-house penalties, rejecting AT&T and Verizon jury trial claims Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The US supreme court backed the Federal Communications Commission’s system for levying fines, ruling on Thursday against wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon in their challenge to the agency and handing a win to Donald Trump ’s administration. The ruling was 8-1. At issue in the legal dispute was whether the agency’s in-house proceedings for imposing the penalties deprived the companies of their right to a jury trial under the US constitution. Trump’s administration defended the FCC’s system for assessing financial penalties, known as forfeiture orders. Continue reading...