U.S. lawmaker introduces bill to legalize cellphone unlocking

Source: Computerworld

The Wireless Device Independence Act would allow consumers to "unlock cell phones for interoperability purposes"

March 6, 2013

IDG News Service - A U.S. senator has proposed a bill that will allow consumers to unlock cellphones for use in other networks, after the administration of President Barack Obama backed over 114,000 petitioners who asked the government to legalize the unlocking of smartphones.

"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.

The proposed "Wireless Device Independence Act of 2013'' aims to amend Section 1201(a)(1)(B) of title 17 of the United States Code which deals with circumvention of copyright protection systems.

It would exclude from the application of a provision relating to circumvention of technological measures persons who use a program, in the form of firmware or software, to enable a wireless telephone handset, or other wireless device that can connect to the Internet, to be connected to a different wireless telecommunications network from that of the operator it was originally acquired from. The user will need to legally own the software program and also be authorized to access the telecommunications network.

Read more: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9237368/U.S._lawmaker_introduces_bill_to_legalize_cellphone_unlocking