A panel of judges on the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals pressed Consumers' Research Wednesday on its argument that the FCC violated the nondelegation doctrine by approving calculations provided by the Universal Service Administration Co. to determine quarterly USF contribution factors. Judge Charles Wilson during oral argument in case 22-13315 asked about whether any issues with the intelligible principles are articulated in Communications Act Section 254. Consumers’ Research attorney Trent McCotter argued “the FCC itself has stated that they are aspirational only,” to which Wilson noted the U.S. Supreme Court called it a "pretty lenient" standard. The FCC, not USAC, acts ministerially in setting quarterly contribution factors, McCotter said, saying the USF statute “contains no such express limitations or rates or formulas.” Judge Kevin Newsom asked what sort of agency participation should be permissible, noting the leniency of the statute at issue. McCotter cited a dissent from Justice Neil Gorsuch that argued an agency “could undertake a particular fact finding to fill in the gaps” so Congress could direct the FCC to calculate the difference between particular prices. “So that's the best authority that you can cite in support of your position as a dissent?” Newsom asked, noting he wasn't aware of any authority after the 1930s being struck down for violating the nondelegation doctrine. Judge Wilson asked "so that the record does reflect that in the past" whether the FCC rejected or modified USAC calculations. FCC attorney Adam Crews noted several instances of the agency doing so and said the commission is "not often intervening" or changing calculations it receives "because what USAC is doing is so routine."
An upcoming Supreme Court decision in Biden v. Nebraska, which concerns the White House’s student loan forgiveness program, could clarify to what degree the court’s major questions doctrine (see 2302080064) could be used to challenge the actions of federal agencies such as the FCC, said HWG's Chris Wright and FCC Deputy General Counsel Jacob Lewis Thursday on a virtual FCBA panel.
An upcoming Supreme Court decision in Biden v. Nebraska, which concerns the White House’s student loan forgiveness program, could clarify to what degree the court’s major questions doctrine (see 2302080064) could be used to challenge the actions of federal agencies such as the FCC, said HWG's Chris Wright and FCC Deputy General Counsel Jacob Lewis Thursday on a virtual FCBA panel.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied Consumers' Research's petition for an en banc review of an opinion denying its challenge of the FCC's USF 2021 Q4 contribution factor (see 2305100063). No judge sought a vote on the suggestion for rehearing, said an order filed Tuesday in case 21-3886.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals should grant Consumers’ Research’s request for a rehearing of its challenge of the FCC’s USF 2021 Q4 contribution factor because the authority to decide taxing and spending policies can't be "delegated,” said the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Free State Foundation in an amicus brief Tuesday (docket 21-3886).
TechFreedom backed Consumers' Research's request for a rehearing of its challenge of the FCC's USF 2021 Q4 contribution factor in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (see 2305100063). "The FCC’s subdelegation of authority to [the Universal Service Administrative Co.] is unconstitutional," the group said in an amicus brief filed Monday in case 21-3886, saying the commission "passed the management of the USF to a private entity" without Congress's permission. "Private delegation is bad enough," TechFreedom said: "Private delegation absent congressional approval is intolerable."
Here are Communications Litigation Today's top stories from last week, in case you missed them. Each can be found by searching on its title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., and ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., said during and after a Thursday hearing they’re forming a USF-focused task force to evaluate how to move forward on a comprehensive revamp of the program that may update its contribution factor to include non-wireline entities. Senate Communications members cited several telecom policy matters that intertwine with the push for USF changes, including future funding for the FCC’s affordable connectivity fund and restoring the commission’s lapsed spectrum auction authority.
Consumers' Research petitioned the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for an en banc review of an opinion denying its challenge of the FCC's USF 2021 Q4 contribution factor, saying the opinion "turned the nondelegation doctrine on its head" and "conflicts with binding precedent." The court denied the group's challenge last week (see 2305040087). "Under the opinion, there is nothing stopping agencies from handing over vast powers to private companies run by industry interest groups," the group said in its petition, filed Wednesday in case 21-3886.
Consumers' Research petitioned the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for an en banc review of an opinion denying its challenge of the FCC's USF 2021 Q4 contribution factor, saying the opinion "turned the nondelegation doctrine on its head" and "conflicts with binding precedent." The court denied the group's challenge last week (see 2305040087). "Under the opinion, there is nothing stopping agencies from handing over vast powers to private companies run by industry interest groups," the group said in its petition, filed Wednesday in case 21-3886.