FCC notifies Wireless carriers to follow phone unlocking rules

The FCC notified carriers that a ruling dictating policy would be formed in case the  the carriers fail to agree on the right of consumers for unlocking their mobile devices.

The move by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) comes due to the business model that is followed by the carriers in the contract. For instance if a customer buys a phone which is in contract for a long term with a carrier, it remains locked to other carriers and this caused the agency to look up into the issue.

Though the phones can be unlocked in shops for a price, the method is illegal in the US after the new law that was introduced in January. The commission expects carrier to notify the consumer when the phone can be unlocked to be used with other service providers.

Over 100,000 signatures were sent with a petition to make unlocking legal in the United States. “Neither criminal law nor technological locks should prevent consumers from switching carriers when they are no longer bound by a service  agreement or service obligation,” mentioned R. David Edelman, senior advisor for Internet, Innovation and Privacy regarding the White House stance on the issue.

As FCC and Wireless trade group CTIA have been working for eight months to solve the issues, FCC Chairman sent a post to CTIA  President Steve Largent to agree to new policies before the shopping season starts.

“Enough time has passed, and it is now time for the industry to act voluntarily or for the FCC to regulate. Absent the consumer’s right to be informed about eligibility, any voluntary program would be a hollow shell.”