The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been considering imposing a rule that would force wireless carriers and providers to reduce the time it takes to unlock newly purchased phones. Instead of the regular duration, the FCC wants the unlocking period to be reduced to 60 days after activation.
Despite its efforts to implement this, carriers continue to implement phone unlocking restrictions. To be more specific, the FCC’s chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has called out Metro by T-Mobile for increasing the phone unlocking duration instead of lowering to their recommended period. In fact, the T-Mobile prepaid brand raised the 180-day period to 365 days.
The FCC Chairwoman said:
"You bought your phone, you should be able to take it to any provider you want. Some providers already operate this way. Others do not. In fact, some have recently increased the time their customers must wait until they can unlock their device by as much as 100 percent."
Before the regulatory agency gave T-Mobile the nod to acquire Sprint, it allowed the prepaid subscribers to unlock devices no longer than one year after activation. With this change, Metro by T-Mobile follows the same phone unlocking policy that T-Mobile prepaid uses. The FCC Chairwoman’s response suggests that she wishes T-Mobile reduced this phone unlocking period, especially since this is a prepaid device.
The FCC is currently hoping to get the public’s comments about the 60-day unlocking period. Meanwhile, Public Knowledge, a consumer advocacy group has commended the regulatory agency.
"Phone locking imposes unnecessary burdens on consumers, particularly those from vulnerable and low-income communities, by locking them into expensive service contracts and preventing them from switching to more competitive plans.
Source: PhoneArena
