UNLOCKING CONSUMER CHOICE AND WIRELESS COMPETITION ACT

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, the inability to unlock cell phones means that the original wireless carrier has an unfair and unnecessary competitive advantage. In many instances, the sole purpose of locking a cell phone is to keep consumers bound to their existing networks.

Consumers often buy a new cell phone as part of their initial purchase of service from a carrier's wireless network. Because the phone is locked into that carrier's network, at the end of the first term of service, the consumer is forced to stay with that provider, sometimes at a higher rate, or being stuck with a useless locked phone.

Allowing a phone to be unlocked will allow a consumer to keep his phone and switch carriers to a more appropriate, affordable, or suitable plan and have that opportunity, without having to purchase a new phone. So I support H.R. 1123, as amended, as it will restore a consumer's ability to unlock their cell phones.

Now, obviously, allowing millions of consumers who wish to unlock their cell phones and switch to another provider, obviously, that has widespread support. The White House, the Federal Communications Commission, and others that the chairman of the committee have mentioned have all urged Congress to allow cell phone unlocking.

The bill, as amended, makes improvements to the bill as reported by the Judiciary Committee. The new language in the bill makes it clear that the sole purpose of the bill is to allow unlocking in order to switch carriers.

This bipartisan legislation enhances consumer choice in the cell phone market, and accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.