White House: It's time to legalize cell phone unlocking
Summary: The Obama Administration is making its opinion about cell phone unlocking crystal clear in a new memo.
In what is sure to draw the attention (and disdain) of mobile providers nationwide, the Obama Administration is arguing that it's time to legalize cell phone unlocking.
In a follow up to a petition to the President, R. David Edelman, senior advisor for Internet, Innovation, & Privacy, penned the response, declaring the White House's stance is that "neither criminal law nor technological locks should prevent consumers from switching carriers when they are no longer bound by a service agreement or other obligation."
Here's an excerpt from the memo issued on Monday:
The White House agrees with the 114,000+ of you who believe that consumers should be able to unlock their cell phones without risking criminal or other penalties. In fact, we believe the same principle should also apply to tablets, which are increasingly similar to smart phones. And if you have paid for your mobile device, and aren't bound by a service agreement or other obligation, you should be able to use it on another network. It's common sense, crucial for protecting consumer choice, and important for ensuring we continue to have the vibrant, competitive wireless market that delivers innovative products and solid service to meet consumers' needs.
