Verizon to stop automatic unlocking of phones as FCC ends 60-day unlock rule, making it harder for customers to switch carriers.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted Verizon's petition for a waiver of the 60-day unlocking requirement, effectively allowing the carrier to lock phones for longer periods without automatically releasing them. The change will make it more difficult for consumers to switch from Verizon to other carriers, as they will have to request unlocking manually.
The new policy allows Verizon to comply with the CTIA trade group's voluntary unlocking policy, which requires carriers to unlock prepaid mobile devices one year after activation and devices on postpaid plans after a contract or early termination fee is paid. However, under the waiver, Verizon only has to follow these guidelines "upon request" from consumers.
The FCC said it rejected a request to limit the locking period to 180 days, citing that the current policy provides an adequate threshold for ensuring competitive options and will not impede those options. The agency also declined to impose a longer waiting period, stating that Verizon's current loss mitigation measures are being overwhelmed solely because of the unlocking rule.
The change in policy comes after Verizon obtained a waiver from the FCC in 2008 when it purchased licenses to use 700 MHz spectrum. The carrier had previously sold phones that were already unlocked, but implemented a new locking policy in 2019 to deter fraud. However, this policy change was deemed insufficient by law enforcement associations and other groups, who argued that it allowed bad actors to exploit the system.
The FCC cited concerns of law enforcement agencies, stating that the current 60-day policy has impacted their ability to investigate stolen handsets and focus on public safety matters. Verizon has thanked the FCC for the waiver, saying it will end bad actors' ability to profit from exploiting the unlocking rules.
Consumer groups have expressed disappointment with the decision, arguing that automatic unlocking reduces switching costs, enhances competition, and promotes a more efficient and sustainable device marketplace. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) has urged the FCC to implement a 180-day unlocking requirement, stating that it will delay benefits for consumers and undermine competition.
As a result of the waiver, Verizon's current policy of remotely unlocking phones automatically after 60 days of paid activation and 60 days of paid active service will no longer apply. Phones already activated on the carrier's network will be unaffected by the change.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted Verizon's petition for a waiver of the 60-day unlocking requirement, effectively allowing the carrier to lock phones for longer periods without automatically releasing them. The change will make it more difficult for consumers to switch from Verizon to other carriers, as they will have to request unlocking manually.
The new policy allows Verizon to comply with the CTIA trade group's voluntary unlocking policy, which requires carriers to unlock prepaid mobile devices one year after activation and devices on postpaid plans after a contract or early termination fee is paid. However, under the waiver, Verizon only has to follow these guidelines "upon request" from consumers.
The FCC said it rejected a request to limit the locking period to 180 days, citing that the current policy provides an adequate threshold for ensuring competitive options and will not impede those options. The agency also declined to impose a longer waiting period, stating that Verizon's current loss mitigation measures are being overwhelmed solely because of the unlocking rule.
The change in policy comes after Verizon obtained a waiver from the FCC in 2008 when it purchased licenses to use 700 MHz spectrum. The carrier had previously sold phones that were already unlocked, but implemented a new locking policy in 2019 to deter fraud. However, this policy change was deemed insufficient by law enforcement associations and other groups, who argued that it allowed bad actors to exploit the system.
The FCC cited concerns of law enforcement agencies, stating that the current 60-day policy has impacted their ability to investigate stolen handsets and focus on public safety matters. Verizon has thanked the FCC for the waiver, saying it will end bad actors' ability to profit from exploiting the unlocking rules.
Consumer groups have expressed disappointment with the decision, arguing that automatic unlocking reduces switching costs, enhances competition, and promotes a more efficient and sustainable device marketplace. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) has urged the FCC to implement a 180-day unlocking requirement, stating that it will delay benefits for consumers and undermine competition.
As a result of the waiver, Verizon's current policy of remotely unlocking phones automatically after 60 days of paid activation and 60 days of paid active service will no longer apply. Phones already activated on the carrier's network will be unaffected by the change.
This is a big bummer for consumers 
I mean, who wants to jump ship from Verizon to another carrier 
but has to go through all that hassle 
? It's like they're trying to keep us locked in 
Not cool 
. And what about those prepaid phones 
? They're gonna be stuck locked for a looong time 
...it's just not right 
.
This is all about keeping customers locked in and making money from them... it's just not right 
, this is soooo not good for customers like me! The new policy makes it super hard to switch carriers without asking Verizon first 
This is a big win for Verizon, though - they'll be able to lock down their phones and prevent bad actors from exploiting the system 
. But for consumers, this is a major bummer 
. I just hope they don't implement some super-long waiting period that's just unfair to us regular folks 
#NotMyNetwork #FCCFail #PhoneUnlockingIsKey
And don't consumer groups know anything about this? They're always talking about how great automatic unlocking is for competition and all that... but here we are with a new policy that just seems like a way for Verizon to keep its customers locked in. 
automatic unlock was such a game changer for people trying to switch carriers 
i mean who needs all that hassle of asking and waiting and hoping they dont cancel ur service? 
and honestly i think that's just not fair 
, like we're some kind of slaves 
This is all about Verizon's bottom line and screwing over the consumer 
. I swear, it's like they think we're just sheep waiting to be exploited 
. And don't even get me started on the law enforcement thing, that's just a weak excuse 
. This is disgusting 
!
. We need real change, not just token gestures from regulators. This is a step backward for consumers and I'm not okay with it 
so i just read that verizon is ditching automatic phone unlocking... like, what's the point of even having a mobile carrier if you can't switch to a better deal or plan? 
I mean, don't even get me started on how hard it's gonna be for low-income families or people who just need to switch quickly 
. I hope someone pushes back on this decision and makes sure that consumers' rights aren't being trampled 
). The whole point of this 60-day rule was supposed to give consumers more freedom and options. It's just another example of how big corporations are always looking out for themselves, even if it hurts the people who use their services 
. automatic unlocking allows customers to switch carriers without losing money 
. this is exactly why consumer groups are upset - they know it's gonna cost more for people to switch carriers and it's just not fair 
And the FCC is just caving in to their demands 
. The only group that's actually happy about this is probably Verizon themselves 
, but the rest of us are just stuck in a cycle of hassle and expense 
.
. Now, customers have to request unlocking manually, which can be super frustrating 
. In the meantime, I'm just going to shake my head in frustration 
! I mean, who wants to have to beg a carrier to unlock their phone just to switch carriers? It's like, so extra work