Overview

• Verizon has formally petitioned the FCC to waive its current 60-day phone unlocking rule, requesting an extension to six months.
• The 60-day unlocking requirement was originally established in 2008 as a condition of Verizon's C-Block spectrum purchase and revised in 2019.
• Verizon claims the existing rule enables fraud and device trafficking, citing losses of over 784,000 devices to fraud in 2023.
• The carrier argues that a six-month lock-in period would align with industry standards and allow it to continue offering phone subsidies and lower upfront costs for consumers.
• Consumer advocates and FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel have pushed for uniform 60-day unlocking rules across all carriers, emphasizing the importance of competition and consumer freedom.