June 27 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Supreme Court reinstated federal rules that shield Comcast Corp. and other cable companies from having to open their lines to rival Internet service providers.

The justices, reversing a lower court, today said the Federal Communications Commission was justified in classifying cable-modem connections solely as an ``information service,'' a category that isn't subject to access requirements.

The 6-3 decision in Washington resets the rules governing the $15.6 billion market for high-speed Web connections. It's a victory for cable companies Time Warner Inc., Cox Communications Inc. and Charter Communications Inc. and a defeat for Internet service provider EarthLink Inc. and consumer groups.

The cases are National Cable & Telecommunications Association v. Brand X Internet Services, 04-277, and FCC v. Brand X Internet Services, 04-281.

To contact the reporter on this story: Scott Lanman in Washington at slanman@bloomberg.net; Greg Stohr in Washington at gstohr@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 27, 2005 10:18 EDT