FCC, Wireless Carries Agree to Unlock Cellphones, What it Means

Dec 12, 2013 05:51 PM EST | Matt Mercuro

Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler confirmed this week that U.S. wireless carriers will be making it easier for cell phone users to "unlock" their devices for use on a competitor's network, Federal Communications.

Wheeler said that this week members of Congress reached an agreement between the carriers and the agency, meaning providers will now notify customers about the eligibility of their phones for unlocking.

An outline for the deal says that carriers would be required to "process or deny unlocking requests" within two business days, according Reuters.

"Today's commitment by wireless providers will provide consumers with more information about when, and how, to move their devices from one network to another compatible network, should they choose to do so," said Wheeler said in a statement.

Wireless companies often "lock" phones to their networks in an attempt to get customers to renew their mobile contracts. Consumers frequently get new smartphones at a discounted price if they agree to commit to a long contract.

The new deal would provide consumers a guarantee that they could get their phones "unlocked" at the end of their contract.

Top carries like AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile have allowed customers to unlock devices and take them to another carrier at the end of a contract, which usually lasts at least two years, though the process is different for each company.

Earlier this year an unexpected ruling from the Library of Congress, which oversees U.S. copyright law, made unlocking a device illegal. The ruling shocked most people, and a petition was formed to change the ruling.

After gaining over 114,000 signatures, the petition found its way on the White House's agenda, according to Reuters. The government sided with the petitioners.

 "There is additional progress to be made on unlocking, such as the support of a robust secondary market in mobile devices," Tom Sugrue of T-Mobile USA said in a statement.

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