JUN. 27 6:18 P.M. ET
In a victory for the cable industry, the Supreme
Court on Monday said cable companies don't have to share their lines
with rival providers of high-speed Internet service.

The 6-3 decision in the so-called "Brand X" case upholds a Federal
Communications Commission ruling that said the cable companies were
exempt from the same regulations requiring phone companies to offer
access to independent providers. At the time, the FCC said it wanted to
encourage cable companies to build their networks to offer broadband
services.

In an opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas, the high court said judges
should defer to the expertise of the FCC, which concluded in 2002 that
limited access is best for the industry.