The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a case from DirecTV and Dish Network challenging state taxes in Massachusetts and Tennessee, Reuters reported Monday.
According to the lawsuits, DirecTV and Dish have argued that the tax laws in both states unfairly impose additional taxes on satellite TV providers that are not equally carried by cable TV companies. The taxes listed as grievances include a 5 percent excise tax on satellite customers in Massachusetts and a tax on the monthly bill of satellite customers in Tennessee.
The companies have said previously that such taxes run against the Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution.
Motions from DirecTV and Dish to have the cases heard by the Supreme Court were denied by the justices on Monday, cementing previous decisions from the high courts in both states that upheld the laws.
Filed Under: Industry regulations
