Major Wireless Carriers Meeting Commitments on Handset Unlocking Policies, CTIA Says

Major U.S. wireless carriers support handset unlocking and will adhere to six principles as part of a voluntary commitment made to provide enhanced transparency and disclosure of carriers’ device unlocking policies, said CTIA General Counsel Michael Altschul Monday in a blog post. Among the principles are full disclosure and development unlocking policies for postpaid and prepaid devices, Altschul said. Petitions were due Monday at the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office as it begins the sixth triennial “anti-circumvention” rulemaking proceeding under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, he said. “CTIA will observe the proceeding as it develops, and participate as appropriate, consistent with our commitment to unlocking," he said. "The exemption rules are revised every three years. Based on the prior proceedings, we anticipate that software used to 'lock' cellphones to a carrier’s network will be included in this proceeding."