FCC Orders All Cellphones To Be Unlocked

Photo by Koby Kelsey on Unsplash

(RestoreAmericanGlory.com) – On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission put forward a new rule proposal that would require all carriers to unlock cell phones within 60 days from purchase. In a statement, the FCC argued that such a move would allow more freedom to cellphone users who want to just use their existing phones but switch to a different mobile wireless service provider. It added that with this move the consumer’s phone would be able to get a new wireless network so long as it was compatible with the different providers’ network. 

The majority of cell phones are currently not capable of being unlocked until after the phone is paid off or the contract has expired. This blocks consumers from switching to a different network with the same phone. 

The agency has argued that certain cell phones could contain software that blocks them from being used on different mobile networks, even in cases where the networks are technologically compatible. The FCC has noted that under the current situation, users are kept “under the thumb of carriers” as they are locked into a certain carrier.
Unlocking mobile phones is going to provide more consumer choice to users while also increasing the wireless service provider marketplace competition. 

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel in a recent statement argued that real competition is going to benefit from the consistency and clear rules. She added that when purchasing a phone people should have the choice to change carriers rather than being stuck due to practices that block them from making a choice.

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