Supreme Court upholds FCC’s fines against Verizon, AT&T 

The Supreme Court rejected Verizon and AT&T’s constitutional challenge to massive fines imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in an 8-1 vote on Thursday. 

Chief Justice John Roberts ruled the companies are not entitled to a jury trial to contest the fines. Related to the use of customers’ location data, they amount to more than $100 million combined.

The Seventh Amendment guarantees jury trials for certain “suits at common law,” but the FCC stresses its forfeiture orders aren’t binding. It says a company that doesn’t want to pay can force a collection lawsuit, bringing its concerns before a judge and jury.

“And the Commission’s factual findings are not conclusive,” Roberts agreed. “It thus does not offend........

© The Hill