The US Supreme Court ruled on Thursday in an 8-1 decision backing the Federal Communications Commission’s system for levying fines. The court ruled against wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon, siding with the Trump administration regarding the power of federal regulators over telecommunications companies.
The legal dispute focused on whether the agency's in-house proceedings for imposing penalties, known as forfeiture orders, deprived the companies of their right to a jury trial under the US constitution. The battle emerged after the FCC levied substantial fines against several carriers.
The court determined that telecommunications companies cannot immediately demand a jury trial when hit with an FCC fine. However, the ruling also stated that the carriers do not have to pay the penalties right away.