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TECHNOLOGY => Computing and Internet => Topic started by: ReadWrite on Sep 19, 2013, 09:31 AM

Title: White House To FCC: Unlock These Smartphones Now!
Post by: ReadWrite on Sep 19, 2013, 09:31 AM
  (http://readwrite.com/files/fields/RWNow.jpg)  

The White House, which already supported smartphone unlocking (http://readwrite.com/2013/03/04/the-white-house-agrees-unlocking-your-cellphone-should-be-legal), has asked the FCC to follow suit (http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/09/17/223542353/obama-petitions-fcc-to-legalize-cell-phone-unlocking) by establishing rules that would let consumers unlock their mobile devices without permission from carriers.

Earlier this year, the Librarian of Congress declined to renew a copyright-law exemption that had legalized unlocking, which means the practice becomes a crime starting January 26 (http://readwrite.com/2013/02/21/white-house-petition-to-end-cellphone-unlocking-ban). FCC rules would overrule the Librarian's decision. Here's the official White House petition (http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/ntia_mobile_devices_unlocking_petition_09172013.pdf) to the FCC (PDF).

ReadWrite