October Term 2001 · Docket 00-832
Does the Pole Attachments Act cover wireless facilities?
The dispute centers on whether the FCC must regulate rates for wireless attachments on utility poles.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Feldman argued the FCC must regulate just and reasonable rates.
Steindler emphasized the importance of the wireless issue.
Keisler argued coverage turns on facility nature, not service.
Feldman claimed the FCC's construction deserves deference.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks if the Pole Attachments Act covers specific facility types.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 33-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 2, 2001.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-11
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Act to cover their attachments.
the opposing sides want the Act to exclude their attachments.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 33-9
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the FCC must regulate these attachments.
the opposing sides argue coverage depends on the facility nature.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 33-9
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if the case was submitted.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-11
Why it matters
The outcome determines which entities pay regulated pole rates.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 33-9
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-11
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 33-9
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.