March 5, 2026

Washington, D.C. - Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), joined by Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO), wrote to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr this week calling on the Commission to finalize its rulemaking to require automatic phone unlocking after 180 days across all mobile carriers.

In the letter, the Senators called device unlocking - allowing consumers to use their phone on any carrier's network if they have paid the device off - "a pro-consumer, pro-competition issue" and argued that phone locking functions as "an artificial barrier to switching, innovation, and a fully competitive marketplace."

The Senators also cited data showing American families spend over $2,000 more annually than necessary on mobile service due in part to carrier lock-in and urged the FCC to take action to conclude its pending rulemaking and establish a uniform unlocking standard.

The Senators wrote in the letter, "We urge the Commission to seize this opportunity to deliver meaningful relief to American families by enacting a uniform unlocking rule, establishing long-sought regulatory certainty, and upholding the principle that competition best serves consumers. Therefore, the Commission should take swift action to bring its pending rulemaking to a conclusion and exercise its authority to establish consistent rules to require automatic unlocking of mobile phone service after 180 days across all mobile providers to allow real competition to benefit all consumers and American families."

Read the full letter here or below.

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The Honorable Brendan Carr

Chairman

Federal Communications Commission

45 L Street, NE

Washington, D.C. 20554

Dear Chairman Carr,

We strongly support the Federal Communications Commission's work to ensure that consumers have the freedom to select mobile phone service that truly meets their needs and serves their pocketbooks. Consumer freedom is a cornerstone of lowering costs, which is at the heart of an affordability agenda.

The Commission's pending rulemaking to establish uniform device unlocking requirements represents a critical opportunity to address affordability for consumers and ensure a vibrant and competitive mobile marketplace for years to come. Device unlocking is a pro-consumer, pro-competition issue that eliminates current obstacles to mobile subscribers' ability to obtain affordable wireless options that best suit their needs. Phone locking, in contrast, functions as an artificial barrier to switching, innovation, and a fully competitive marketplace. American consumers deserve better and we commend the Commission's ongoing efforts in its rulemaking to review and evaluate the role that uniform mobile phone unlocking rules can provide to bring clarity and consistency to the marketplace.

We recognize and appreciate the fraud concerns that have been raised in opposition to a uniform and automatic unlocking requirement. We are confident, however, that the Commission will be able to appropriately balance those concerns by adopting a reasonable waiting period - e.g., 180 days - before a device must be unlocked. Such a period addresses concerns of fraud while still achieving the important objectives that unlocking delivers, including expanding consumer choice, preserving competition, and improving affordability.

Recent data shows that American families are spending over $2,000 more annually than necessary on mobile service, due in large part to being locked into costly equipment or long-term service plans with major carriers. A uniform unlocking rule adopted by the Commission would provide consistency throughout the growing wireless industry and eliminate a carrier's ability to artificially restrict consumer choice, thereby ensuring consumers are free to seek out the best value service that fits their budget, service expectations, and personal preferences.

We urge the Commission to seize this opportunity to deliver meaningful relief to American families by enacting a uniform unlocking rule, establishing long-sought regulatory certainty, and upholding the principle that competition best serves consumers. Therefore, the Commission should take swift action to bring its pending rulemaking to a conclusion and exercise its authority to establish consistent rules to require automatic unlocking of mobile phone service after 180 days across all mobile providers to allow real competition to benefit all consumers and American families.

Thank you for your consideration. We welcome the opportunity to discuss these priorities with you further.

Sincerely,

Cynthia M. Lummis

U.S. Senator - Wyoming

John N. Kennedy

U.S. Senator - Louisiana

Eric S. Schmitt

U.S. Senator - Missouri

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