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> But I don't see anything in there that say they have the ability to mandate unlocking. That's because cell phones didn't exist when the FCC mandate was creat
by falcolas 2y ago
> But I don't see anything in there that say they have the ability to mandate unlocking.
That's because cell phones didn't exist when the FCC mandate was created. So no, you won't see cell phones (or attributes of cell phones) explicitly mentioned.
That said, cell phones are radio communication devices, which is something the FCC does indeed regulate. They have long history of regulating the manufacture and operation of such devices. Vendor lockin included (something that ATT tried and was swatted down for with landline phones).
And let's be honest, Congress has had decades to narrow the mandate of the FCC if they believed they were misbehaving when it comes to cell phone regulation. The FCC operates on behalf of congress, after all.
- themaninthedark 2y agoI would not expect to see anything that says cellphones or the like, I would expect to see something that allows them to mandate the kind of communication equipment or characteristics of the communication equipment. We had landlines for a long time before cell phones and the phone company was AT&T. They didn't allow a customer to buy another phone and hook it up to their network, you rented it from AT&T. At some point that changed, I don't think AT&T gave that up out of the goodness of their heart. It was probably from a FCC mandate or law, which would in turn give the FCC ground here. If not, then it is and oversight that should be corrected.