Lawmakers look to legalize cellphone unlocking

Numerous lawmakers, including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), said that they want to pass legislation to legalize cellphone unlocking.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) was the first to introduce a bill on the topic, formally offering the Wireless Device Independence Act. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who chairs the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, said she plans to introduce her own bill this week. “Consumers should be free to choose the phone and service that best fits their needs and their budgets," Sen Klobuchar said. Reps. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Jared Polis (D-CO) also said during a panel discussion on Capitol Hill that they would support legislation to legalize the practice.