MCI Tel. Corp. V. American Tel. & Tel. Co.
In 1934, Congress felt it was necessary for the Federal Communications Commission to regulate the rates charged to consumers for telephone service. Section 203 of the Communications Act required every company to file its rates with the FCC. In the 1980’s, in a move to help competition, the FCC issued a string of regulations referred to as the detariffing policy. This policy made it possible for every insignificant telephone company to discontinue filing its rates.