The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is rolling up its
sleeves to shake up the U.S. mobile service scene by setting new rules for
unlocking mobile phones. After a unanimous
thumbs-up last Thursday, they’re
pushing to make sure service providers free up customers’ phones within just 60
days of activation.
Challenging the Big Three: How the FCC Plans to Stir Up the
Mobile Market
This bold move by the FCC could
change the game in a mobile service market, dominated by the big three:
AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. With 335 million people served, the
competition is stiff but not stiff enough. The FCC’s plan could give the
underdogs a fighting chance and give customers more options.
Chairwoman Rosenworcel on Freedom of Choice: ‘When You Buy
a Phone, You Should Own It’
Jessica Rosenworcel,
the FCC’s Chairwoman, she’s making it clear that buying a phone should mean you can take it
wherever you want, whenever you want. No more being handcuffed to a carrier
because of outdated rules that benefit them more than you.
How Phone Locks Keep Consumers Chained
Right now, a lot of
users find themselves stuck with one network until their plan runs out, which
often means they’ve paid way more than the phone’s worth through their bills.
Or, they’re on installment plans that tie them to one carrier, making it hard to
switch without a financial hit. By smoothing out the process of
switching carriers, the FCC is hoping to spark more competition that could lead
to better service and maybe even lower prices.
