Campbell and her fellow attorneys general have called on the Federal Communications Commission to pass a rule that would let consumers change their mobile providers while keeping their existing phones, her office said in a statement.
Right now, people can switch carriers and keep their existing phone numbers, a process known as “porting,” but there are often hurdles to jump through, including making sure your existing phone is compatible with your new carrier’s network, according to Android Authority, a consumer news site.
The rule, if adopted, would require a “uniform baseline” for providers to unlock consumers' phones within 60 days of activation, a move that would “[reduce] consumer cost and confusion in the marketplace,” Campbell’s office said.
“Inconsistent policies and arbitrary timelines across carriers have made purchasing a mobile phone and choosing a service provider all too confusing and expensive for consumers,” Campbell said.
“By adopting this rule, and creating a more uniform unlocking standard, the Federal Communications Commission has an opportunity to empower consumers, foster competition, and increase choice in the wireless marketplace,” she continued.
In a Friday letter, Campbell and a coalition of 15 state attorneys general told federal regulators that they routinely hear from consumers who said they’ve been misinformed or deceived about wireless offers, including offers of “free” cell phones.
These customers say they’ve been lured “into entering a contract with a particular service provider for an extended period of time,” Campbell’s office said.
Adopting the rule would result in reduced device costs by increasing the supply of those available at a lower cost, create more competition between providers, which would result in more affordable plans, and standardize the 60-day unlocking period for all service providers.
Campbell’s office was joined on the push by attorneys general in Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
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