Supreme Court Examines FCC Fines Power in AT&T-Verizon Case

The Supreme Court is weighing the FCC’s power to levy civil penalties on telecoms without a jury trial in a case involving multi‑million‑dollar fines against AT&T and Verizon for failing to protect location data. The Trump administration argues such penalties are essential enforcement tools, while the carriers say the penalties resolve liability and should be subject to a jury. A ruling could reshape enforcement authority for several federal agencies and affect privacy protections nationwide.