Free Press Action Fund Praises 'Unlocking Technology Act'
WASHINGTON -- On Thursday, California Rep. Zoe Lofgren introduced a bill to restore wireless users' ability to “unlock” their phones, tablets or other mobile devices. The "Unlocking Technology Act" is co-sponsored by Reps. Thomas Massie, Anna Eshoo and Jared Polis. In March, Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Mike Lee and Richard Blumenthal introduced a bill to allow users to unlock their phones. Sen. Ron Wyden also introduced his own bill, as did the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.
Wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers use software locks to keep people from using their devices on another network — even when such use would not violate any carrier contracts or terms of service.
Free Press Action Fund Policy Director Matt Wood made the following statement:
“We're pleased that members of Congress continue working to fix this problem, and we thank Rep. Lofgren and her co-sponsors for this important effort to free our phones. This bill proposes more permanent fixes to the copyright laws that carriers exploit to keep people from using their wireless phones and tablets as they choose.
“Those wireless carriers should not lock customers’ phones in the first place. We look forward to continuing this conversation and working with Congress to ensure that everyone is able to use wireless devices on the networks of their choice.”
