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Multiple Congress representatives support cell phone unlocking and look to submit bills

Multiple Congress representatives support cell phone unlocking and look to submit bills

Posted: 06 Mar 2013, 14:55, by Michael H.

Categories: Interesting facts Interesting facts

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Multiple Congress representatives support cell phone unlocking and look to submit bills

It's refreshing to see that Congress can actually work and get things done. Soon after the White House officially responded to the petition to make unlocking carrier-locked cell phones legal, multiple congressional representatives from the House and the Senate have stepped forward not only to support the initiative, but to submit legislation to put the will of the people into action.

The first to come forward was Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) who said yesterday that she plans to introduce a bill this week in an effort to "get rid of the ban on unlocking cellphones." Soon after, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced a bill named the Wireless Device Independence Act. There is also support from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto), Ranking Member on the Communications and Technology Subcommittee.

Essentially, Congress is jumping all over each other trying to be the lead writer of a bill to make unlocking devices legal. There hasn't been any clear frontrunner, or consensus on what the bill should include, but given the bipartisan support, it looks like this one may go through relatively quickly.

source: Senator Amy Klobuchar & The Hill via The Verge

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1. suneeboy posted on 06 Mar 2013, 16:12 5

Would be great if we get true unlocking i.e. any phone on any carrier as long as it can access the network.

2. mityblumpkin posted on 06 Mar 2013, 16:12 0

there goes my job at selling cell phone service

3. wizzardtech posted on 06 Mar 2013, 16:46 3

at last!! its really working. yes give us some freedom

4. OptimusOne posted on 06 Mar 2013, 16:51 4

hope this passes....

they should write a law against locked bootloaders because locked bootloaders interfere with a customers freedom of choice of what Rom they want to run...

5. Mxyzptlk posted on 06 Mar 2013, 18:44 0

There's way too many important issues to focus on over legislation to unlock cell phones.

6. corporateJP posted on 06 Mar 2013, 19:02 4

I always knew you were suspect as hell, but I never knew you worked for Verizon.

7. MichaelHeller posted on 06 Mar 2013, 19:48 6

Given that Congress can't agree on any of the important issues, let them start with something small and maybe work their way up. Better to pass a bill about unlocking cell phones than spend all their time filibustering routine appointments.

8. MartianMe posted on 06 Mar 2013, 22:16 2

I'm feeling a little proud right now...it is been a long time since i felt this way about America.

9. MartianMe posted on 06 Mar 2013, 22:20 1

I forgot to add..legalize medical marijuana and support gay marriage ...after all if they want to live miserable for the rest of their life like any other married couple ...go ahead.

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Samsung Galaxy S4
- Announced: 14 Mar 2013
- OS: Android 4.2.2
- Hardware: Quad core, 1900 MHz, Krait 300, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 5.0 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 13 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
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Apple iPhone 5
- Announced: 12 Sep 2012
- OS: iOS
- Hardware: Dual core, 1300 MHz, Apple Swift, 1016 MB RAM
- Display: 4.0 inches, 640 x 1136 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 8 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900), CDMA (800 1700/2100 1900)
- Data: LTE Cat3 Downlink 100 Mbit/s HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS EV-DO Rev.A EV-DO Rev.B
Samsung GALAXY Note II
- Announced: 29 Aug 2012
- OS: Android 4.1.2 4.1.1
- Hardware: Quad core, 1600 MHz, ARM Cortex-A9, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 5.5 inches, 720 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 8 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 35 hours of Talk Time, 980 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: LTE Cat3 Downlink 100 Mbit/s LTE Cat3/4 Uplink 50 Mbit/s HSDPA+ (4G) 21.1 Mbit/s HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS
HTC One
- Announced: 19 Feb 2013
- OS: Android 4.1.2
- Hardware: Quad core, 1700 MHz, Krait 300, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 4.7 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 4 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900), CDMA (800 1900)
- Data: LTE HSPA (unspecified) UMTS EDGE GPRS
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- Announced: 07 Jan 2013
- OS: Android 4.1.2
- Hardware: Quad core, 1500 MHz, Krait, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 5.0 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 13.1 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 11 hours of Talk Time, 550 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: LTE Cat3 Downlink 100 Mbit/s LTE Cat3/4 Uplink 50 Mbit/s HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS
Google Nexus 4
- Announced: 29 Oct 2012
- OS: Android 4.2.2 4.2.1 4.2
- Hardware: Quad core, 1500 MHz, Krait, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 4.7 inches, 768 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 8 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 15.3 hours of Talk Time, 390 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS
LG Optimus G
- Announced: 28 Aug 2012
- OS: Android 4.1.2 4.0.4
- Hardware: Quad core, 1500 MHz, Krait, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 4.7 inches, 768 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 13 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 15 hours of Talk Time, 335 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: LTE HSPA (unspecified) UMTS EDGE GPRS
Nokia Lumia 920
- Announced: 05 Sep 2012
- OS: Windows Phone 8
- Hardware: Dual core, 1500 MHz, Krait, 1024 MB RAM
- Display: 4.5 inches, 768 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 8.7 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 17 hours of Talk Time, 400 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: LTE Cat3 Downlink 100 Mbit/s LTE Cat3/4 Uplink 50 Mbit/s HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS

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Multiple Congress representatives support cell phone unlocking and look to submit bills

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9 Comments Follow Following

1. suneeboy posted on 06 Mar 2013, 16:12 5

2. mityblumpkin posted on 06 Mar 2013, 16:12 0

3. wizzardtech posted on 06 Mar 2013, 16:46 3

4. OptimusOne posted on 06 Mar 2013, 16:51 4

5. Mxyzptlk posted on 06 Mar 2013, 18:44 0

6. corporateJP posted on 06 Mar 2013, 19:02 4

7. MichaelHeller posted on 06 Mar 2013, 19:48 6

8. MartianMe posted on 06 Mar 2013, 22:16 2

9. MartianMe posted on 06 Mar 2013, 22:20 1

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