Supreme Court sides with President Donald Trump’s administration on federal regulation of telecommunications companies – Chicago Tribune

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration Thursday in upholding the power of federal regulators to apply data privacy laws to telecommunications companies.

The 8-1 decision preserved one of the Federal Communications Commission’s key tools, although the companies also won a concession from the Republican administration that could change the regulatory landscape.

The appeal from telecommunications giants Verizon and AT&T challenged a combined $100 million in penalties imposed after the agency determined the companies failed to protect customer location data.

The companies argued that the FCC process was unconstitutional because it gave them little opportunity to tell their side of the story in front of a jury.

The administration has defended that fines are an essential regulatory tool. But the government also said businesses would not have to pay the penalties immediately, representing a regulatory shift in favor of business.

The Supreme Court agreed, upholding the FCC’s authority to impose fines when challenges are still possible.

“The orders at issue do not resolve the legal obligations of carriers because, put simply, they do not create an obligation to pay,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority.

Justice Clarence Thomas, the lone dissenter, said it would have given companies a clearer path to recoup fines they had already paid.

Other agencies use similar enforcement methods, so a blowout victory for AT&T and Verizon could have had widespread effects, advocates said.

Environmental group Earthjustice applauded the decision, saying it has direct implications for other agencies and is a key case for energy efficiency.

“By rejecting this unsupported attack on agency authority, the Court’s decision protects the government’s ability to enforce laws that protect people, communities and the environment,” said Caroline Flynn, the group’s Supreme Court attorney.

The libertarian-leaning New Civil Liberties Alliance was disappointed by the decision, but expects it to help other companies in the future. “In fact, it might even strengthen their willingness to challenge future agency orders in federal court before paying penalties,” said alliance President Mark Chenoweth.

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority has ruled against federal agencies and limited their power in the past. That includes overturning a decades-old ruling that gave regulators an advantage in court and depriving another agency of a major tool in the fight against securities fraud.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos