Verizon Communications, Inc. has filed a Request for Waiver seeking relief from enforcement of the FCC rule 27.16(e) and its handset unlocking commitment that was imposed by the FCC as a condition for approving Verizon’s acquisition of Tracfone. Verizon claims that the handset unlocking mandate harms consumers, competition, and enables fraud.
Critics, including New America’s Open Technology Institute and Public Knowledge, note that Verizon previously supported a uniform handset unlocking policy and state that handset unlocking rules in fact enhance consumer choice without increasing fraud.
