Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted to approve a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to propose handset unlocking policies to improve competition in the mobile wireless market. Public Knowledge commends the Commission for moving to improve consumer choice.
The following can be attributed to John Bergmayer, Legal Director at Public Knowledge:
“Public Knowledge commends the FCC for its forward-thinking approach to consumer protection and competition through its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on mobile phone unlocking. The proposed requirement for all mobile wireless service providers to unlock phones 60 days after activation is a critical step towards enhancing consumer choice, fostering competition, and promoting affordability in the wireless marketplace.
“The FCC’s proposal aligns closely with Public Knowledge’s long-standing advocacy for consumer rights and market fairness. For years, we have highlighted how phone locking imposes unnecessary burdens on consumers, particularly those from vulnerable and low-income communities, by locking them into expensive service contracts and preventing them from switching to more competitive plans. This practice not only stifles competition but limits consumers’ ability to find better services and prices.
“Phone locking also keeps used phones off the secondary market, which removes affordable options from the market while limiting how much consumers can get for their older phones by trading them in or selling them directly.
“Unlocking phones also has significant environmental benefits. By allowing consumers to retain and reuse their devices across different networks, we can reduce electronic waste and extend the lifecycle of mobile phones, which is crucial for environmental sustainability. Moreover, this initiative fits with the broader right-to-repair movement, empowering consumers to have more control over their devices and reducing the need for premature device replacements.
“We are particularly pleased to see that the FCC’s NPRM considers the needs of both postpaid and prepaid customers, ensuring that all consumers can benefit from these protections. As we’ve seen in other countries like the U.K. and Canada, where similar policies have led to more competitive markets and better consumer outcomes, we are confident that the FCC’s approach will yield significant benefits for American consumers.
“We urge the FCC to move swiftly in adopting these rules and to continue enforcing policies that protect consumer rights and promote a competitive, fair, and sustainable wireless marketplace.”
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.