“You bought it, you should be able to use it. My Wireless Device Independence Act ensures you can unlock your device,” said Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, in a Twitter message on Tuesday.
This comes right on the heels of the Obama administration’s stated public support for overturning prohibitions on cell phone unlocking.
Corporate lobbyists need to get a grip of this situation before something in the public interest is reenacted.
Wyden’s usually on the consumer’s side. Good man.
But in this case he’s blowing it. Making it legal for a user to remove locks on a device when it was purchased only benefits companies like the guy that started the petition owns. NOT consumers who often aren’t told about the security holes, battery issues, inability to update the software or it could brick the phone. Or the lack of warranty from the manufacturer
IF he really wanted to help consumers he’d be asking for no locking period. All phones sold unlocked. And move to more consumer friendly pricing. Like newer petitions http://wh.gov/G7GL and http://wh.gov/G7Ut
That’s the ideal, certainly. But perhaps he backed a bill he knew he could get more immediate support for.