> If a phone has a bad radio it could affect hundreds of other customers. I still don't understand - what does 'activation' do, how does it prevent a bad radio

> If a phone has a bad radio it could affect hundreds of other customers. I still don't understand - what does 'activation' do, how does it prevent a bad radio from interfering with other customers? Why not kick phones with bad radios off their network, regardless of what model they are? Do they activate every phone with a conforming radio, or are they more picky? If they are more picky - why? How can they even distinguish one conforming phone from another? If a phone conforms to the network rules, what reason do they have for caring what sort of phone it is? > and it is their right. They are near-monopolies providing an essential service using public airwaves. Lets not pretend they're equivalent to Moe's tavern down the street.