The issue of cellphone unlocking has been at the heart of a heated debate that involves the users, the wireless carriers and the White House. A petition filed with the White House, garnering more than a hundred thousands signatures, demanded that cellphone unlocking be made legal. Now, a Senate bill has been launched which will accomplish this, if approved.
The senators who have introduced the bill are Amy Klobuchar, Mike Lee and Richard Blumenthal. The bill is being titled as ‘Wireless Consumer Choice Act’ and aims to make cellphone unlocking legal so that consumers get to have complete freedom in choosing whichever cellular network they like.
The bill essentially envisions that in legalizing cellphone unlocking and letting the users avail it, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should be told to order the wireless carriers. According to Senator Klobuchar, “Consumers should have flexibility and choice when it comes to their wireless service and they deserve to keep and use cell phones they have already purchased.”
Senator Blumenthal stated that legalizing cellphone unlocking is ‘common sense’ and that it is pertinent for healthy competition in the market. The bill comes at the heels of White House’s decision to endorse the users’ demand of making cellphone locking legal. Interestingly, FCC Chairman also endorsed the freedom of choice in this matter.
However, the wireless carriers are obviously gearing up to put up a fight and convince the lawmakers that they already provide consumers with the option of purchasing unlocked handsets. Let’s see how convincing the argument appears to the Senators.
Source: The Hill
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