summary
Introduced
03/13/2013
03/13/2013
In Committee
07/31/2013
07/31/2013
Crossed Over
02/26/2014
02/26/2014
Passed
Dead
01/03/2015
01/03/2015
Introduced Session
113th Congress
Bill Summary
Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act - Repeals a Library of Congress (LOC) rulemaking determination, made upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, regarding the circumvention of technological measures controlling access to copyrighted software on wireless telephone handsets (mobile telephones) for the purpose of connecting to different wireless telecommunications networks (a practice commonly referred to as "unlocking" such devices). Reestablishes, as an exemption to provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) prohibiting such circumvention, a previous LOC rule permitting the use of computer programs, in the form of firmware or software, that enable used wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when circumvention is initiated by the owner of the copy of such computer program solely to connect to such a network and access to the network is authorized by the network operator, thus permitting unlocked phones. Directs the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register, to determine whether to extend such exemption to include any other category of wireless devices in addition to wireless telephone handsets (e.g., tablets and other mobile broadband-enabled devices).
AI Summary
This bill, titled the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, allows consumers to "unlock" their mobile phones, which means enabling used phones to connect to different wireless telecommunications networks, a practice previously restricted by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). It repeals a specific Library of Congress (LOC) rule that had prohibited this and reinstates an older rule that permitted it under certain conditions: the owner must initiate the unlocking solely to connect to an authorized network. The bill also directs the Librarian of Congress, with advice from the Register of Copyrights, to consider whether this unlocking exemption should be extended to other wireless devices like tablets. Importantly, this bill does not permit unlocking for bulk resale purposes.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (11)
Bob Goodlatte (R)*,
Jason Chaffetz (R),
Howard Coble (R),
John Conyers (D),
Suzan DelBene (D),
Hakeem Jeffries (D),
Hank Johnson (D),
Zoe Lofgren (D),
Betty McCollum (D),
Ted Poe (R),
Melvin Watt (D),
Last Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (on 02/26/2014)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/1123/all-info | 04/25/2013 |
| BillText | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr1123eh/pdf/BILLS-113hr1123eh.pdf | 02/27/2014 |
| BillText | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr1123rh/pdf/BILLS-113hr1123rh.pdf | 02/27/2014 |
| Bill | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr1123rh/pdf/BILLS-113hr1123rh.pdf.pdf | 02/27/2014 |
| Bill | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr1123eh/pdf/BILLS-113hr1123eh.pdf.pdf | 02/27/2014 |
| BillText | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr1123ih/pdf/BILLS-113hr1123ih.pdf | 06/12/2013 |
| Bill | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr1123ih/pdf/BILLS-113hr1123ih.pdf.pdf | 03/21/2013 |
Loading...