John Roberts Calls FCC Supreme Court Case a ‘PR Problem'

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts called Verizon and AT&T’s challenge of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fines a “PR problem” during oral arguments on Tuesday.

"I wonder if, at the end of the day, you're really just talking about a PR problem," Roberts said.

The FCC announced it would be fining major wireless carriers Verizon and AT&T, along with Sprint and T-Mobile, in April 2024 for illegally sharing access to customers' location information without consent. Sprint and T-Mobile merged after the investigation began.

Verizon and AT&T challenged the process as unconstitutional, arguing that it gives them little opportunity to present their side in court. Key justices, including Roberts, seemed skeptical of their arguments.

The federal government said the penalty is an essential part of regulation and it does provide a path to challenge it in court.

When companies are notified that they have violated FCC regulations, they can either pay the penalty and then contest it before an appeals court or refuse to pay and wait for a federal lawsuit that could lead to a jury trial.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling by late June.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.

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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 4:43 PM.