The Supreme Court agreed Friday to wade into a fight over Congress’ ability to delegate power to federal agencies — opening the next chapter in a decadeslong effort by conservatives and business interests to reduce the power of the federal government.

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Friday to decide the legality of a congressionally authorized fund operated by the Federal Communications Commission to expand access to telecommunications services in a challenge accusing Congress of unlawfully delegating its authority to an independent federal agency.

The Supreme Court could further weaken the power of federal agencies by agreeing to hear a dispute over a Federal Communications Commission program that requires companies to subsidize telecommunications services in under-served areas.

The Supreme Court has stepped into a major legal fight over the $8 billion a year the federal government spends to subsidize phone and internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas, in a new

The Supreme Court on Friday said it will consider the constitutionality of the Federal Communications Commission's Universal Service Fund, agreeing to review a lower court decision that upended the mechanism for funding programs that provide communications services to rural areas,

The US Supreme Court will weigh a fresh line of attack on federal administrative power, agreeing to consider the constitutionality of the $8 billion annual slate of subsidies that help cover the cost of telecom services for poor people and rural residents.