October Term 2004 · Docket 04-277
Does the FCC have authority to regulate broadband internet as a telecommunications service?
Cable companies argue broadband is an unregulated information service. Internet providers claim it is a regulated telecommunications service.
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
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.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-47
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-13
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 29, 2005.
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 55, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-17
What each side wants
Cable companies want the FCC to stop regulating broadband internet.
Internet providers want the FCC to keep regulating broadband internet.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-13
What each side says
Cable companies argue broadband is an information service under the statute.
Internet providers argue broadband is a telecommunications service under the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-13
What the justices asked
Justice O'Connor asked about the FCC's tentative decision on DSL regulation.
Justice Scalia asked about the history of bundled technology sales.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-47
Why it matters
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-13
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 10, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-47
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 19, lines 23-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-13
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.