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

posted by Michael H. / Mar 06, 2013, 3:55 PM

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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9 Comments

1. suneeboy

Posts: 201; Member since: Oct 02, 2012

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

posted on Mar 06, 2013, 4:12 PM 5

2. mityblumpkin

Posts: 14; Member since: Mar 06, 2013

there goes my job at selling cell phone service

posted on Mar 06, 2013, 4:12 PM 0

3. wizzardtech

Posts: 59; Member since: Mar 12, 2012

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

posted on Mar 06, 2013, 4:46 PM 3

4. OptimusOne

Posts: 694; Member since: May 22, 2012

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...

posted on Mar 06, 2013, 4:51 PM 4

5. Mxyzptlk unregistered

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

posted on Mar 06, 2013, 6:44 PM 0

6. corporateJP

Posts: 2458; Member since: Nov 28, 2009

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

posted on Mar 06, 2013, 7:02 PM 4

7. MichaelHeller

Posts: 2734; Member since: May 26, 2011

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.

posted on Mar 06, 2013, 7:48 PM 6

8. MartianMe unregistered

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

posted on Mar 06, 2013, 10:16 PM 2

9. MartianMe unregistered

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.