House Commerce Committee Leaders Request Additional Information from Apple on Throttling iPhone Processor Speeds

House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta (R-OH), and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Gregg Harper (R-MS) sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook expressing concern over recent reports that Apple throttles processor performance for older iPhone models.

“In response to concerns over the belated disclosure of its performance-limiting software feature, Apple announced that it would offer battery replacements for out-of-warranty iPhones at a reduced cost and would be issuing an iOS update in early 2018 that will provide users with greater information on their iPhone’s battery performance. However, Apple has indicated to the Committee that, thus far, it is unable to ascertain whether it has taken the necessary steps to ensure that affected consumers will be able to obtain a replacement battery in a timely manner.  Apple has also indicated that it has yet to develop policies to protect consumers should it fail to develop alternative methods to prevent instantaneous iPhone shutdowns, other than limiting processor performance, by the time the term of its reduced-cost battery replacement program expires at the end of 2018,” they wrote. 


House Commerce Committee Leaders Request Additional Information from Apple on Throttling iPhone Processor Speeds