FCC Proposal Offers Freedom of Choice with Your Mobile Service Provider

The FCC has just announced that they are proposing a 60-day unlocking requirement for all mobile service providers. Customers purchasing new cell phones would have 60 days to change their service provider before being locked.

What does it mean if my phone is "locked" by a provider?

If your phone is locked, that means that you are bound to the original provider you signed with upon first purchase of your device. So, say I purchased the new fold phone and my carrier is AT&T. I am locked into this service with AT&T, even if I try to restart, reprogram or reactivate it.

The purpose of this decision is to allow customers to "unlock" their phones within the first 60 days of purchase. This way you, the customer, can give your chosen provider essentially a three month test run and, if you don't like what you see, you have full authority and power to switch carriers.

Benefits of the FCC proposal

Not only would this decision increase consumer choice with their mobile service providers, it also increases competition among providers while offering growth opportunities to smaller carriers.

Some service providers already abide by a similar policy with their customers. This decision would provide a uniform structure across all companies rather than some here and there.

Notable carriers with new unlocking policies already are AT&T and Boost Mobile.

Other FCC Rules

The FCC also approved rules regarding Wi-Fi hotspots in schools and libraries, and the slashing of jail call costs for incarcerated people calling friends or family.