15 Democratic Attorneys General Want FCC to Unlock Phones

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2024 – A group of 15 Democratic attorneys general want the Federal Communications Commission to move forward with its phone unlocking proposal.

“Our offices consistently receive complaints from consumers who report that they were misinformed or deceived about wireless device offers, including offers of ‘free’ handsets, which lure them into contracting with a particular service provider for an extended period of time until the device can be unlocked,” the AGs wrote in a letter to the agency posted Monday. “The Commission’s proposed rule will significantly decrease this kind [of] gamesmanship.”

The agency proposed in July requiring mobile carriers to unlock phones after 60 days, meaning the phones could then be switched to another provider’s network. Other consumer protection items have moved forward along party lines in the last year, but the phone unlocking proposal was put forward unanimously.