FCC and Carriers Close to Reaching Cellphone Unlocking Deal, says Reuters

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The FCC and US wireless carriers are close to agreeing on blanket rules for cellphone unlocking, Reuters reports. Sources say that the deal, expected “soon,” will likely require telecoms to make sure customers know if their phone is eligible to be unlocked and used on another carrier, process requests for unlocking within two days, and establish rules for prepaid phones that don’t fall inside the normal contract-based system. Right now, the FCC is apparently hammering out final details, including how exactly people will get prepaid phones unlocked and how to avoid “black markets” of unlocked phones bought with subsidies and then sold at a discount. If an agreement is reached, it could mark a significant step forward in establishing best…

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