Supreme Court to Review FCC’s Ability to Issue Fines

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2026 – The Supreme Court decided Friday it will weigh in on whether the Federal Communications Commission’s process for issuing fines is unconstitutional.

Both the FCC and telecom carriers challenging their fines have asked the high court to resolve a circuit split on the issue. Those cases were consolidated.

After the three major mobile providers challenged fines last year, the D.C. Circuit and Second Circuit ruled in favor of the agency while the Fifth Circuit sided with AT&T and said the FCC’s forfeiture process was invalid.