The FCC wants to make it easier to unlock cellphones


The chair of the Federal Communications Commission proposed a new rule that could make it easier for consumers to unlock their cellphones. The proposed regulation, which the agency announced on Thursday, would require mobile providers to unlock consumers’ phones within 60 days of activation.
Under current regulations, consumers who want to unlock their phone — as in, freeing up a phone so it can move from one network to another — are at the mercy of their service provider. Per the FCC, consumers who want to unlock their device should contact their service provider to find out when and how their phone can be unlocked. To then unlock a device, a consumer must be in “good standing” with their provider, meaning their phone must be paid off or they’ll have to pay an early termination fee. (This works a bit differently for people with prepaid phone plans, which “participating providers” will usually unlock within a year of activation, depending on their individual requirements.)
In a press release, the FCC said updated rules around unlocking phones would give consumers more flexibility. “Real competition benefits from transparency and consistency,” FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “That is why we are proposing clear, nationwide mobile phone unlocking rules. When you buy a phone, you should have the freedom to decide when to change service to the carrier you want and not have the device you own stuck by practices that prevent you from making that choice.”
There are few details about the proposed rule at the moment. The FCC’s press release notes that it will have an open meeting on July 18th, during which it will vote on the notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the expansion of the unlocking requirements. After the 18th, the FCC will seek comment on the proposed rule, whether the new requirement should be applied to current or future contracts, and whether it could benefit smaller service providers and phone resellers.
The chair of the Federal Communications Commission proposed a new rule that could make it easier for consumers to unlock their cellphones. The proposed regulation, which the agency announced on Thursday, would require mobile providers to unlock consumers’ phones within 60 days of activation. Under current regulations, consumers who want…
Recent Posts
- Major website hijacking scam sees over 35,000 sites attacked, redirected to gambling sites, so be on your guard
- The ups and downs of the iPhone 16E
- The US Is Considering a TP-Link Router Ban—Should You Worry?
- There’s Nothing left to hide as leaked videos reveal the Phone 3A in full
- North Korean hackers are posing as software development recruiters to target freelancers
Archives
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2018
- October 2017
- December 2011
- August 2010