Senator Klobuchar's bill to legalize phone unlocking would require the Federal Communications Commission to direct wireless providers to unlock mobile devices. The bill is available here. While the law would specify that contracts are not affected, I do not read the bill as allowing providers to refuse to unlock just because the subscriber is still in contract. Presumably, early termination fees or whatever contract remedies are lawful could still be imposed on the unlock requestor. In any such regulations, the FCC should make clear that legitimate handset owners, even if they are not current subscribers, can get their devices unlocked. I'm curious to hear from recyclers and unlocking companies how this bill would affect their businesses.
New Phone Unlocking Bill
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