Two House Democrats want their colleagues to vote...
Two House Democrats want their colleagues to vote against a cellphone unlocking bill (http://1.usa.gov/1dbtwH2) slated for a House floor vote Tuesday (CD Feb 24 p19). Reps. Zoe Lofgren and Anna Eshoo, both of California, circulated a Dear Colleague letter Monday…
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criticizing HR-1123 introduced by Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. “After this bill was marked up and reported out of committee, a new section was added to the bill without notice to or consultation with us,” they said, saying Public Knowledge and the Electronic Frontier Foundation had both withdrawn support. “The new provision could have negative effects on consumer choice and could undercut an important court decision that protects consumer choice and prevents monopolistic practices. We cannot in good conscience support a bill that risks giving up so much for so little gain.” Lofgren is listed as a co-sponsor for the bill. In response to a press question about Public Knowledge’s concerns, a Republican Hill aide told us Friday that the bill was never meant to address bulk unlocking, as Public Knowledge wanted. That would be addressed in a broader copyright review, the aide had said. “The new addition to the bill puts the effort to stand up for the property rights of the owners of technology devices at risk,” Eshoo and Lofgren said in their letter. “It is sad that the bipartisan consensus reached during mark-up in the Judiciary committee to improve the law has been destroyed by a secret decision of the majority after the bill was reported out.”