Goodlatte, Conyers, Coble, Watt, Chaffetz Statement on NTIA Petition to FCC

Statement

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.), Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Howard Coble (R-N.C.), Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee Ranking Member Mel Watt (D-N.C.), and Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) today applauded the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for its interest in the issue of requiring wireless carriers to unlock mobile devices when requested.

Chairman Goodlatte, Ranking Member Conyers, Subcommittee Chairman Coble, Subcommittee Ranking Member Watt, and Representative Chaffetz released the following statement: "We applaud NTIA's recognition of the need to restore the exemption that permits consumers to unlock their cell phones and other mobile devices without the approval of their wireless provider. This is an issue of consumer choice and flexibility, plain and simple. We are appreciative of the support of groups like NTIA and we will all continue working to see that this issue of significant importance to most Americans is addressed."

The House Judiciary Committee approved the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act (H.R. 1123) on July 31, 2013.