The Chair of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed new rules that would require mobile service providers to unlock consumer mobile phones within 60 days of their activation.
“Real competition benefits from transparency and consistency,” said Chair Jessica Rosenworcel in a press release issued by the Commission in late June. “When you buy a phone, you should have the freedom to decide when to change service to the carrier you want and not have the device you own stuck by practices that prevent you from making that choice.”
According to the press release, the Commission will vote at its July 18th Open Meeting on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would “expand unlocking requirements to establish a clear and uniform set of requirements for all mobile service providers.”
The FCC says that updating the current unlocking requirements will give consumers more flexibility when switching service providers and increase competition by reducing consumers’ switching costs.
Read the FCC’s press release on Rosenworcel’s proposal to establish mobile phone unlocking requirements.
