Federal Communications Commission v. ITT World Communications, Inc.

Three FCC members, constituting a quorum of the agency's Telecommunications Committee, met with European and Canadian counterparts in a series of conferences called the Consultative Process to discuss telecommunications regulatory policy, including a push to persuade European nations to accept more competition in the market. ITT World Communications, Inc. (plaintiff), representing companies opposed to new competitors entering the market, argued the Sunshine Act required these sessions to be open to the public. The FCC denied ITT's petition, the court of appeals sided with ITT, and the FCC sought Supreme Court review.