Cellular Phone Taskforce v. Fed. Commc'ns Comm'n, 217 F.3d 72 (2d Cir. 2000). · Go Syfert
Cellular Phone Taskforce v. Fed. Commc'ns Comm'n, 217 F.3d 72 (2d Cir. 2000). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
G Cite
cited 11× by 11 distinct cases, 2015–2026 · 8 courts→ Stable · …title ii of the ada is not applicable to the federal government.
40 citation events (39 in the last 25 years) across 21 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Woods v. City of St. Louis, Missouri (moed, 2025-07-25)
Treatment trajectory · 2000 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2000 2013 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 21 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Woods v. City of St. Louis, Missouri
E.D. Mo. · 2025 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
title ii of the ada is not applicable to the federal government.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Murray v. Murguia
N.D. Cal. · 2025 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
title ii of the ada 14 is not applicable to the federal government.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) McKenzie v. Social Security Administration
E.D. Cal. · 2025 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
congress has not specifically 14 waived sovereign immunity as to the ssa, this court has no subject matter jurisdiction over the 15 ssa for an ada claim
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Ricks v. DMA Companies
W.D. Tex. · 2024 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
title ii of the ada is not applicable to the federal government.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) McKenzie v. Social Security Administration
E.D. Cal. · 2024 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
title ii of the ada is not 22 applicable to the federal government.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Watson v. Veterans Evaluation Services
D. Kan. · 2023 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
title ii of the ada is not applicable to the federal government.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) SAUNDERS, JR. v. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS
D.N.J. · 2023 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
title ii of the ada is not applicable to the federal government.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Baker v. Peters
S.D.N.Y. · 2023 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
title ii of the ada is not applicable to the federal government.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) LaChase v. Trump Administration
S.D. Fla. · 2020 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
. . . title ii of the ada is not applicable to the federal government.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Clark v. Student Loan Finance Corporation
S.D.N.Y. · 2019 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
title ii of the ada is not applicable to the federal government.
discussed Cited "see" Banga v. Kanios
N.D. Cal. · 2024 · signal: see · confidence high
See Cellular Phone Taskforce v. FCC, 217 F.3d 72 , 73 (2d Cir. 2000) (citing 42 1 Defendants are entitled to cross-examine him.
cited Cited "see" Moore v. Capital Realty Group, Inc.
W.D.N.Y. · 2022 · signal: see · confidence high
See Cellular Phone Taskforce, 217 F.3d at 73; DeBord, 126 F.3d at 1106.
cited Cited "see" Moore v. United State of America
W.D.N.Y. · 2022 · signal: see · confidence high
See Cellular Phone Taskforce v. F.C.C., 217 F.3d 72 , 73 (2d Cir. 2000) (per curiam) (finding federal agency not liable under Title II of the ADA).
discussed Cited "see" Straw v. United States
Fed. Cl. · 2017 · signal: see · confidence high
See Cellular Phone Taskforce v. F.C.C., 217 F.3d 72 , 73 (2d Cir. 2000) (per curiam) ("Title II of the ADA is not applicable to the federal government."), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1070 (2001); Pierce v. United States, 117 Fed.
cited Cited "see" Collins v. Sovereign Bank
D. Conn. · 2007 · signal: see · confidence high
See Cellular Phone Taskforce v. F.C.C., 217 F.3d 72 , 73 (2d Cir.2000) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 12131 (1)).
discussed Cited "see" Gray v. United States
Fed. Cl. · 2005 · signal: see · confidence high
Under Section 201 of the ADA, the federal government is not included within the definition of a public entity. 42 U.S.C. § 12131 (1) (defining a "public entity” as any state or local government, instrumentality thereof, or the National Railroad Passenger Corporation); see Cellular Phone Taskforce, et al. v. Federal Commc’ns Comm'n, 217 F.3d 72 , 73 (2d Cir. 2000) (holding that "Title II of the ADA is not applicable to the federal government.”). .
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Frick, Tyler v. U.S. Department of Justice
W.D. Wis. · 2024 · signal: see also · confidence low
Second, Title II of the ADA -- which prohibits disability discrimination by public entities -- does not apply to the federal government. 42 U.S.C. § 12131 (1) (defining “public entity” as “(A) any State or local government; (B) any department, agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality of a State or States or local government; and (C) the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, and any commuter authority (as defined in section 24102(4) of Title 49”); see also Cellular Phone Taskforce v. F.C.C., 217 F.3d 72 , 73 (2d Cir. 2000).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." O'Dell v. Hope Network West Michigan
E.D. Mich. · 2021 · signal: see also · confidence low
See 42 U.S.C. § 12131 (1)(B) (“The term ‘public entity’ means ... any State or local government” or “any department, agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality” thereof); see also Cellular Phone Taskforce v. FCC, 217 F.3d 72 , 73 (2d Cir. 2000) (noting that “Title II of the ADA is not applicable to the federal government”). 29 barred by sovereign immunity because those claims are preempted by Title VII, the “exclusive judicial remedy for claims of discrimination in federal employment.”) (citations omitted).
cited Cited "see, e.g." Tranchmontagne v. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
E.D. Mich. · 2021 · signal: see also · confidence low
See 42 U.S.C. § 12131 (1)(B); see also Cellular Phone Taskforce v. FCC, 217 F.3d 72 , 73 (2d Cir. 2000) (noting that “Title II of the ADA is not applicable to the federal government”).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Gorney v. Veterans Administration
D. Ariz. · 2020 · signal: see also · confidence low
Ariz. Dec. 18, 21 2013) (finding “under Title II, the federal government is not included within the definition 22 of a public entity[,]” and “Title III of the ADA does not apply to public entities”); see also 23 Cellular Phone Taskforce v. FCC, 217 F.3d 72 , 73 (2d Cir. 2000) (holding that the FCC 24 cannot be liable under Title II of the ADA because Title II does not apply to the Federal 25 Government).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Agee v. United States
Fed. Cl. · 2006 · signal: see also · confidence low
See 42 U.S.C. § 12131 (“The term ‘public entity’ means-(A) any State or local government; (B) any department, agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality of a State or States or local government; and (C) the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, and any commuter authority (as defined in section 24102(4) of Title 49)”); see also Cellular Phone Taskforce v. FCC, 217 F.3d 72 , 73 (2d Cir.2000) (“Title II of the ADA is not applicable to the federal government”).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Cellular Phone Taskforce, Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, National Association of Broadcasters, Association for Maximum Service Television, Inc., Electromagnetic Energy Association, and At&t Wireless Services, Inc., Intervenors
v.
Federal Communications Commission and United States of America
98-4003.
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Jun 6, 2000.
217 F.3d 72

217 F.3d 72 (2nd Cir. 2000)

CELLULAR PHONE TASKFORCE, et al., Petitioners,
CELLULAR TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS, ASSOCIATION FOR MAXIMUM SERVICE TELEVISION, INC., ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY ASSOCIATION, and AT&T WIRELESS SERVICES, INC., Intervenors,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondents.

Docket Nos. 97-4328(L); 98-4003(Con); 98-4005(Con); 98-4025(Con); 98-4122(Con).
August Term 1999

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT

Argued April 5, 1999
Decided February 18, 2000
Petition for Rehearing Filed April 3, 2000
Decided: June 06, 2000

Petition for rehearing of decision denying petition for review of two final orders of the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC"): (1) Guidelines for Evaluating the Environmental Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation, 11 F.C.C.R. 15123 (1996); and (2) Procedures for Reviewing Requests for Relief from State and Local Regulations Pursuant to Section 332(c)(7)(B)(v) of the Communications Act of 1934, 12 F.C.C.R. 13494 (1997). We deny the petition.

EDWARD J. COLLINS, Cambridge, Massachusetts, petitioner.

Before: NEWMAN, WALKER, and SACK, Circuit Judges.

ON PETITION FOR REHEARING

PER CURIAM:

[*~72]1

Petitioner Cellular Phone Taskforce ("CPT") has petitioned for rehearing to reconsider our decision in Cellular Phone Taskforce v. FCC, 205 F.3d 82 (2d Cir. 2000). We assume familiarity with our earlier decision.

2

CPT requests, inter alia, that we reconsider our determination that CPT's claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., and the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq. were not properly before us. In response to our decision that an FCC staff member's ruling on these claims was not an appealable final order of the FCC, CPT argues that the FCC did not issue a final order only because it impermissibly delegated its final decision to an agency staff member. We express no view as to the FCC's delegation of decisionmaking but, on reconsideration, agree that on the facts of this case CPT had done all it reasonably could to secure a final agency determination. Considering the discretion we have to review non-final agency determinations, see National Black Media Coalition v. FCC, 791 F.2d 1016, 1021 (2d Cir. 1986), we have chosen to consider the merits of CPT's claims.

[*72]3

CPT filed suit under Title II of the ADA, alleging that the FCC had forced states and local governments to discriminate against electrically sensitive people in violation of the ADA. See 42 U.S.C. § 12132 ("[N]o qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in . . . the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity"). CPT's claim fails, however, because Title II of the ADA is not applicable to the federal government. See 42 U.S.C. § 12131(1) ("The term 'public entity' means . . . any State or local government" or "any department, agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality" thereof). Regardless of how the actions of state and local governments may or may not be affected by the FCC's challenged guidelines, the FCC itself cannot be made liable under Title II of the ADA.

4

CPT's claim under the Rehabilitation Act is also unavailing. CPT argues that the FCC's guidelines violate the Rehabilitation Act by permitting the proliferation of FCC-regulated radio frequency ("RF") transmitters. This misconstrues the scope of the Rehabilitation Act's protections. In this context, the Rehabilitation Act applies only to the discriminatory denial of the benefits of a "program or activity" of the FCC. 29 U.S.C. § 794(a). CPT claims that electrically sensitive people are generally being excluded from aspects of modern life by the proliferation of RF transmitters. But CPT does not allege that electrically sensitive people are being denied the benefit of, or are subject to discrimination under, any "program or activity" of the FCC. Thus, CPT's Rehabilitation Act claim against the FCC is without merit.

[*~73]5

We have considered CPT's remaining arguments for rehearing and find them to be without merit. The petition for rehearing is therefore denied.