One of the most contentious decisions to be made last year in America was the outlawing of unlocking your phone. If you did, you ran the risk of prison time or a ridiculously large fine. It was a hugely unpopular decision, one that solely benefited carriers, and undermined the very thing that consumers enjoy the most: choice. Well, you will be glad to know that saga is now over after President Obama today signed the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, the final piece of the puzzle that now makes it once again legal to unlock your phone without permission from your carrier.
The long journey to undo the damaging law started with petition on the We the People site. The petition quickly garnered over 114,000 responses which required a call to action from the White House, and here we are today. The White House Blog says that today is:
“a win for American consumers, a win for wireless competition, and an example of democracy at its best — bipartisan congressional action in direct response to a call to action from the American people.”
Are you happy that you are once again about to unlock your phone in America? Let us know your thoughts.
Source: The White House Blog via engadget
