U.S. Carriers Agree to Make it Easier for Customers to Unlock Cellphones

[dgstorm]

All the work that the consumer petitions, the Congress, the White House and the FCC has been doing on the cellphone unlocking front has finally paid off. A new consensus has been reached as the major U.S. carriers all pledged to follow a new cellphone unlocking policy going forward. The CTIA revealed today that Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular all agreed to a new policy in which they will "clearly notify" customers when their devices are eligible for unlocking. They also agreed to process unlocking requests within two business days.

The issue has been a contentious one since January when the Library of Congress, the minder of U.S. copyright law, basically re-instated an old law effectively making it illegal to unlock your cellphone from its original carrier. There was an uproar across the web and after a year's long fight, things are finally changing. Here's a quote with more of the details,

Unlocking then became a top 2013 policy matter for new FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, a former CTIA chief for whom it presented an opportunity to distance himself from his former industry.

In November, he sent a letter to the CTIA demanding the carriers voluntarily agree to unlock phones for customers in good standing to ensure phone users still have that option.

On Thursday, the agreement was announced and the five carriers pledged to unlock devices after the customer's contract is fulfilled, including pre-paid ones within a year of purchase. (To read the agreement, see: bit.ly/1h3XS1G)

"Today was an important day for consumer choice," Wheeler said on Thursday. "Today's commitment by wireless providers will provide consumers with more information about when and how to move their devices from one compatible network to another, should they decide to do so."

It's important to note that the story isn't completely over. Right now, the carriers have simply agreed to follow the new FCC policy. Ultimately, there is still a problem in the copyright law that eventually needs to be addressed. Here's another quote,

The agreement was welcomed by Sina Khanifar, one of the organizers of the White House petition, although he and public interest groups would still like a permanent change to the copyright law and more flexibility for consumers to unlock their phones before their contracts end - possibly without having to ask the carriers' permission first.

"I really wish I could hang my hat on this and say that the issue had been resolved. But unfortunately it's only a start," said Khanifar.

The changes are expected to be rolled out over a year.

Just as Khanifer said, it's only a start, yet it's truly a light at the end of the tunnel and bodes well for the future of this issue.

Source: Reuters

 

[mountainbikermark]

Let's also not forget Verizon already has a similar policy in place where you can bring your "eligible device" over to them but years after implementing the policy has added 0 (zero, none, nada) devices from other carriers to their "eligible" list.
That being said I look for carriers to make it as difficult as legally possible to switch carriers.

Support Our Troops!!!
<><
s pen aholic in Beast Mode (Notetoo)

 

[dmdj232]

All the work that the consumer petitions, the Congress, the White House and the FCC has been doing on the cellphone unlocking front has finally paid off. A new consensus has been reached as the major U.S. carriers all pledged to follow a new cellphone unlocking policy going forward. The CTIA revealed today that Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular all agreed to a new policy in which they will "clearly notify" customers when their devices are eligible for unlocking. They also agreed to process unlocking requests within two business days.

The issue has been a contentious one since January when the Library of Congress, the minder of U.S. copyright law, basically re-instated an old law effectively making it illegal to unlock your cellphone from its original carrier. There was an uproar across the web and after a year's long fight, things are finally changing. Here's a quote with more of the details,



It's important to note that the story isn't completely over. Right now, the carriers have simply agreed to follow the new FCC policy. Ultimately, there is still a problem in the copyright law that eventually needs to be addressed. Here's another quote,



Just as Khanifer said, it's only a start, yet it's truly a light at the end of the tunnel and bodes well for the future of this issue.

Source: Reuters

Just to confirm...this has nothing to do with the Bootloaders?? It simply means that you can bring your phone to another carrier??

 

[trestevenson]

Just to confirm...this has nothing to do with the Bootloaders?? It simply means that you can bring your phone to another carrier??

Correct.

 

[wagman67]

more information about when and how to move their devices

So, doesn't this little tidbit effectively mean nothing is going to change? If they never develop a when or a how for any of their devices, they are still legal, because until they decide the when and how, you just have to patiently wait for 10-15 years per device...then you can more easily switch.

This is essentially the same tactic moutainbikermark pointed out above. If they get to choose which devices are "eligible" and when and how they become "eligible", I don't really see any teeth to this 'new' policy.

They should make it cut and dry...every device, once paid off, either off contract or by contract fulfillment, will immediately become eligible for unlocking and every device will have an unlocking procedure to follow.

 

[mountainbikermark]

So, doesn't this little tidbit effectively mean nothing is going to change? If they never develop a when or a how for any of their devices, they are still legal, because until they decide the when and how, you just have to patiently wait for 10-15 years per device...then you can more easily switch.

This is essentially the same tactic moutainbikermark pointed out above. If they get to choose which devices are "eligible" and when and how they become "eligible", I don't really see any teeth to this 'new' policy.

They should make it cut and dry...every device, once paid off, either off contract or by contract fulfillment, will immediately become eligible for unlocking and every device will have an unlocking procedure to follow.

The politicians get to say "see we did your will now reelect us". It's feel good legislation at most.
I dare any politician to prove me wrong and put some teeth into it.

Support Our Troops!!!
<><
s pen aholic in Beast Mode (Notetoo)

 

[dmdj232]

Correct.

Figured that! Grrrrrr