Sprint, Verizon Get Mixed Result in Suit to Avoid Local Fees

Sprint and Verizon can’t recover fees they paid to local carriers for services that allowed them to exchange wireless-to-wireline calls that originated and terminated in the same major trading area, the Fifth Circuit said Wednesday.

But the interexchange carriers may be entitled to declaratory relief against local carriers that qualify as price cap carriers, the opinion by Judge Jerry E. Smith said.

Sprint and Verizon paid the local carriers the access charges without dispute for years. In 2014, however, they sued hundreds of local carriers, claiming they were systematically assessed fees they didn’t owe, requesting refunds, and asking for declaratory ...