NTIA petitioned the FCC to require wireless carriers...
NTIA petitioned the FCC to require wireless carriers unlock mobile phones, tablets and other devices, said the first agency in a Tuesday news release (http://1.usa.gov/1guKbXx). “Americans should be able to use their mobile devices on whatever networks they choose and…
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have their devices unlocked without hassle,” said NTIA Administrator Lawrence Strickling. NTIA asked the FCC to immediately initiate the process of rulemaking to protect Americans’ investments in mobile devices. “The proposed rule would shift the burden associated with device unlocking onto the carriers that imposed the locks, and ensure they consistently do so in a way that is both expeditious and transparent,” it said. The Library of Congress last year eliminated an exemption under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that let consumers unlock mobile phones without carrier permission, it said. Top telecom officials in the administration advocated in March for legislative fixes on cellphone unlocking (CD March 5 p1), and members in both chambers have introduced a number of bills on the subject (CD March 7 p6 ). House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., ranking member John Conyers, D-Mich., and Reps. Howard Coble, R-N.C., Mel Watt, D-N.C., and Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, “applaud NTIA’s recognition of the need to restore the exemption that permits consumers to unlock their cell phones and other mobile devices without the approval of their wireless provider,” they said in a joint written statement Tuesday. “This is an issue of consumer choice and flexibility, plain and simple. We are appreciative of the support of groups like NTIA and we will all continue working to see that this issue of significant importance to most Americans is addressed.” Goodlatte’s measure on cellphone unlocking passed Judiciary in July (CD Aug 1 p6). The FCC declined to comment on the NTIA petition, but acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn addressed cellphone unlocking at the Competitive Carriers Association convention Tuesday. Clyburn said she supports policies that enable lawful unlocking. “While wireless carriers should be able to enforce their valid customer contracts, unlocking provisions, need to be grounded in common sense, and practical application,” she said. “Consumers who satisfy the reasonable terms of their contracts should not be subject to civil and criminal penalties if they want to take their device to a new carrier.” She said she asked FCC staff to “redouble their efforts” to explore ways to achieve cellphone unlocking policies.