{"argument_date":"2005-03-29T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-03-29T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Hungar cited the 1996 Act's policy of preserving a free market.","Mr. Cappuccio argued broadband combines two ingredients into one product.","Mr. Goldstein emphasized the statutory text regarding service definitions."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 23-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 15-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-47"}]}],"caption":"National Cable & Telecommunications Assn. v. Brand X Internet Services","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.519883Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.544677Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Cable companies argue broadband is an unregulated information service. Internet providers claim it is a regulated telecommunications service.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 23-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 15-13"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-03-29T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/04-277.html","primary_docket":"04-277","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:39:46.109386Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The dispute centers on how to classify broadband internet under the 1996 Telecommunications Act. the sides that brought the case argue the statute preserves a free market. the opposing sides argue the FCC can regulate the service."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 23-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 15-13"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 29, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Cable companies want the FCC to stop regulating broadband internet.","Internet providers want the FCC to keep regulating broadband internet."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 23-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 15-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Cable companies argue broadband is an information service under the statute.","Internet providers argue broadband is a telecommunications service under the statute."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 23-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 15-13"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice O'Connor asked about the FCC's tentative decision on DSL regulation.","Justice Scalia asked about the history of bundled technology sales."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-47"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of federal regulation over internet access. It determines whether broadband providers face strict service rules. It shapes the competitive landscape for internet delivery."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 23-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 15-13"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-47"}]}],"slug":"2004-04-277-national-cable-telecommunications-assn-v-brand-x-internet-services","term":"2004","title":"Does the FCC have authority to regulate broadband internet as a telecommunications service?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 23-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-277.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 15-13"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}