House Commerce GOP Leaders Press Apple on Battery-Related iPhone 6 Throttling

House Commerce Committee Republican leaders pressed Apple CEO Tim Cook Friday for more information on the company's decision to slow performance of iPhone 6s in response to diminishing performance of the smartphone's batteries. The company apologized in December for its actions, which continue to draw criticism (see 1712290019). Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., also pressed Cook for answers last week (see 1801100063). Apple indicated in a recent briefing with House Commerce members and staff that “thus far, it is unable to ascertain whether it has taken the necessary steps to ensure that affected consumers will be able to obtain a replacement battery in a timely manner,” said Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and others in a letter to Cook. “Apple has also indicated that it has yet to develop policies to protect consumers should it fail to develop alternative methods to prevent instantaneous iPhone shutdowns, other than limiting processor performance, by the time the term of its reduced-cost battery replacement program expires at the end of 2018.” The House Commerce leaders sought responses by Jan. 26. Apple didn't comment.