Consumers' Research v. FCC

  1. March 24, 2023

    5th Circ. Upholds FCC's Universal Service Fund

    The Fifth Circuit upheld the Federal Communications Commission's collection of fees for telecom subsidy programs Friday, ruling the Universal Service Fund does not violate a doctrine that says Congress can't delegate authority to raise revenue.

  2. December 05, 2022

    5th Circ. Probes 'Upshot' Of Overturning FCC Subsidy Fees

    A Fifth Circuit panel explored Monday what would happen if the Federal Communications Commission's fee collection to support telecom subsidies were overturned, as they dissected the legality of giving the FCC and an outside entity power to levy the fees.

  3. September 23, 2022

    6th Circ. Told FCC's Universal Service Fund Unconstitutional

    Free market advocates challenging the constitutionality of the Federal Communications Commission's fund for providing universal communication services have told the Sixth Circuit that the fees collected for the fund are among the "most regressive taxes in America." 

  4. June 21, 2022

    5th Circ. Urged To Ax Challenge To FCC Subsidy Fees

    A bipartisan group of lawmakers has banded with industry and consumer advocates to press the Fifth Circuit to reject a challenge to fees on telecom services that pay for multiple Federal Communications Commission subsidy programs.

  5. April 19, 2022

    Free-Market Groups Want 5th Circ. To Kill FCC Subsidy Fund

    The Federal Communications Commission has been levying an illegal tax for the last quarter-century by requiring phone companies to contribute to its Universal Service Fund, a cost they pass on to customers, a collection of libertarian think tanks and conservative voices have told the Fifth Circuit.