Verizon Communications Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission
535 U.S. 467 · Decided May 13, 2002 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Verizon Communications Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission was decided on May 13, 2002 by a vote of 6–2. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision in part, reversed or vacated it in part, and remanded the case. Justice David H. Souter wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Telephone or telegraph regulation” in the Economic Activity area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 535 U.S. 467 · 122 S. Ct. 1646 · 152 L. Ed. 2d 701 · 2002 U.S. LEXIS 3559
- Docket number
- 00-511
- Decided
- May 13, 2002
- Argued
- October 10, 2001
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part and remanded
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 6–2
- Majority opinion
- David H. Souter
- Opinion assigned by
- William H. Rehnquist
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Telephone or telegraph regulation
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Legal provision
- 47 U.S.C. § 251
- Type of law
- Infrequently litigated statute
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Majority | |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Dissent | |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Majority | |
| Justice David H. Souter | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Clarence Thomas | Majority | |
| Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Majority | |
| Justice Stephen G. Breyer | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
Did not participate: Sandra Day O'Connor.
Full case caption
Verizon Communications Inc., et al. v. Federal Communications Commission, et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 2001-045, docket 2001-045-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Telephone or telegraph regulation”
- Mathias v. Worldcom Techs.
- AT&T Corporation v. Iowa Utilities Board
- Global Crossing Telecommunications, Inc. v. Metrophones Telecommunications, Inc.
- MCI Telecommunications Corporation v. American Telephone and Telegraph Company
- Talk America v. Michigan Bell Telephone Company Dba AT&T Michigan
- T Mobile South, LLC v. City of Roswell
Cases on the same legal provision: 47 U.S.C. § 251
Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)
- TRW Inc. v. Adelaide Andrews
- J. E. M. Ag Supply, Inc. v. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
- Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company v. Janette Knudson and Eric Knudson
- Jo Anne B. Barnhart v. Sigmon Coal Company, Inc.
- Cornelius P. Young v. United States
- Mathias v. Worldcom Techs.
Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error