Newest Phone Unlocking Bill Criticized as 'Temporary Fix'

Another phone unlocking bill has emerged on Capitol Hill, with Judiciary Committee members from both chambers joining forces to allow users to unlock their devices without carrier permission.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sen Al Franken (D-MN), as well as Sens Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Mike Lee (R-UT) unveiled the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act yesterday. In the House, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Ranking Member John Conyers are backing companion legislation. The bill reverses a decision from the Library of Congress's Copyright Office, which made cell phone unlocking illegal back in January. "This straightforward restoring bill is about promoting consumer rights," Sen. Leahy said in a statement. "When consumers finish the terms of their contract, they should be able to keep their phones and make their own decision about which wireless provider to use." "It just makes sense that cell phone users should be able to do what they want with their phones after satisfying their initial service contract," Sen. Hatch said. "This bill reinstates that ability, while also ensuring that copyrights are not violated."