@rbreich Smart corporations use regulation as a cudgel to crush competition.
For example, AT&T achieved its monopoly by seeking regulated status as a way to dominate and exterminate the independent telephone companies of the early telephone era. AT&T used regulation as a weapon in ways that were outrageous - witness the amazing Hush-A-Phone case where AT&T tried to ban what amounted to a mere passive plastic hand that could be attached to a telephone in order to better focus voice into the terrible carbon microphones of the 1940s.
Right now the Internet has relatively loose standards for attachment and interoperation. I fully anticipate that we will be seeing efforts to constrict this on the grounds of security or reliability or whatever, much as the 5G telco universe is largely closed to those who do not dance to the monopolistic tune.
What I would have done would be that he'd have to come clean about the prank to the girl and apologize. Then as an apology offer money for a fine dining dinner at a central location on his expense from his monthly allowance. He wouldn't be at the dinner.
What a dimwit son, I would have made him do all the chores in addition. 😡