Memo on
​
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ET AL. v.
CONSUMERS’ RESEARCH ET AL.
+Assignment
During my internship with Congressman Mike Quigley, I was tasked with drafting a policy memo analyzing the Supreme Court case FCC v. Consumers’ Research. The memo focused on the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund (USF) and synthesized various expert opinions on the case's broader implications.
+Approach
I conducted thorough research on the FCC's regulatory authority and the history of the Universal Service Fund. I performed a detailed reading of the Court’s decision, specifically the 6–3 ruling, and analyzed commentary from legal and policy experts to understand how this decision affects telecommunications access and the "nondelegation doctrine."
Result: I wrote an in-depth memo detailing the Court's reversal of the Fifth Circuit’s decision, which protected the $8 billion annual fund supporting rural broadband and low-income services. My memo also integrated expert commentary on how the ruling maintains the current balance of power between Congress and federal agencies, along with the necessary context regarding the impact on schools, libraries, and rural healthcare providers.