The Supreme Court upheld the Federal Communications Commission's multi-billion-dollar mechanism for expanding phone and internet access.

A law called the Telecommunications Act passed by Congress in 1996 authorized the FCC to operate a "Universal Service Fund," to be drawn from regular contributions by telecommunications companies. The fund draws around $9 billion annually, with the vast majority of telecommunications companies passing on the cost to customers.

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that Congress did not give up too much of its power when it created a framework pursuing universal service.