Verizon Objects to NTIA Proposed Restrictions on Handset Locking Waiver

Verizon asked the FCC not to impose restrictions NTIA seeks on the carrier's ability to lock handsets (see 1906070032). “Although NTIA supports Verizon’s petition for a partial waiver of the handset locking rule to combat this type of fraud, it suggests that the Commission should ‘narrow the scope of a partial waiver in order to maximize continuing benefits to consumers,’” Verizon said, posted Thursday in docket 06-150. The company's proposed temporary waiver “was crafted to be as targeted as reasonably possible while still being effective and already strikes the appropriate balance. The additional limitations that NTIA asks the Commission to consider fail to appreciate that as soon as a device is unlocked, there is no mechanism to relock that device,” the carrier said: “It is therefore critical for Verizon to combat fraud on the front end.” The commission took comment on the waiver in April (see 1903050057).