Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act

Bill: 113-hr-1123
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6]
Introduced: 2013-03-13
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Congressional agencies

Intellectual property

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Library of Congress

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2014-02-26
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-03-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>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.<br /></p> <p>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). </p>

action_date: 2014-02-25
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>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.</p> <p>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). </p> <p>Allows such circumvention (unlocking) to be initiated by the owner of such a device, by another person at the direction of the owner, or by a provider of a commercial mobile radio service or a commercial mobile data service at the direction of such owner or other person, solely in order to enable such owner or a family member of such owner to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when such connection is authorized by the operator of such network. Prohibits such owner-directed unlocking from being construed to: (1) permit the unlocking of devices for the purpose of bulk resale, or (2) authorize the Librarian to authorize circumvention for such purpose.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1123 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 13, 2013 Mr. Goodlatte (for himself, Mr. Conyers , Mr. Coble , Mr. Watt , Mr. Poe of Texas , and Ms. DelBene ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To promote consumer choice and wireless competition by permitting consumers to unlock mobile wireless devices, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act . 2. Repeal of existing rule and additional rulemaking by Librarian of Congress (a) Repeal and replace Paragraph (3) of section 201.40(b) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended and revised by the Librarian of Congress on October 28, 2012, pursuant to his authority under section 1201(a) of title 17, United States Code, shall have no force and effect, and such paragraph shall read, and shall be in effect, as such paragraph was in effect on July 27, 2010. (b) Rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, who shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and report and comment on his or her views in making such recommendation, shall determine, consistent with the requirements set forth under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code, whether to extend the exemption for the class of works described in section 201.40(b)(3) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended by subsection (a), to include any other category of wireless devices in addition to wireless telephone handsets. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this Act alters, or shall be construed to alter, the authority of the Librarian of Congress under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code.

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 1123 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To promote consumer choice and wireless competition by permitting consumers to unlock mobile wireless devices, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act . 2. Repeal of existing rule and additional rulemaking by Librarian of Congress (a) Repeal and replace As of the date of the enactment of this Act, paragraph (3) of section 201.40(b) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended and revised by the Librarian of Congress on October 28, 2012, pursuant to the Librarian’s authority under section 1201(a) of title 17, United States Code, shall have no force and effect, and such paragraph shall read, and shall be in effect, as such paragraph was in effect on July 27, 2010. (b) Rulemaking (1) In general The Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, who shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and report and comment on his or her views in making such recommendation, shall determine, consistent with the requirements set forth under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code, whether to extend the exemption for the class of works described in section 201.40(b)(3) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended by subsection (a), to include any other category of wireless devices in addition to wireless telephone handsets. (2) Timing of rulemaking (A) If this Act is enacted before June 1, 2014, the determination under paragraph (1) shall be made by not later than the end of the 9-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (B) If this Act is enacted on or after June 1, 2014, the determination under paragraph (1) shall be made in the first rulemaking under section 1201(a)(1)(C) of title 17, United States Code, that begins on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Unlocking at direction of owner (1) In general Circumvention of a technological measure that restricts wireless telephone handsets or other wireless devices from connecting to a wireless telecommunications network— (A) (i) as authorized by paragraph (3) of section 201.40(b) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as made effective by subsection (a), and (ii) as may be extended to other wireless devices pursuant to a determination in the rulemaking conducted under subsection (b), or (B) as authorized by an exemption adopted by the Librarian of Congress pursuant to a determination made on or after the date of enactment of this Act under section 1201(a)(1)(C) of title 17, United States Code, may be initiated by the owner of any such handset or other device, by another person at the direction of the owner, or by a provider of a commercial mobile radio service or a commercial mobile data service at the direction of such owner or other person, solely in order to enable such owner or a family member of such owner to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when such connection is authorized by the operator of such network. (2) No bulk unlocking Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit the unlocking of wireless handsets or other wireless devices, for the purpose of bulk resale, or to authorize the Librarian of Congress to authorize circumvention for such purpose under this Act, title 17, United States Code, or any other provision of law. (d) Rule of construction Except as provided in subsection (c), nothing in this Act alters, or shall be construed to alter, the authority of the Librarian of Congress under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code. (e) Definitions In this Act: (1) Commercial mobile data service; commercial mobile radio service The terms commercial mobile data service and commercial mobile radio service have the respective meanings given those terms in section 20.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Wireless telecommunications network The term wireless telecommunications network means a network used to provide a commercial mobile radio service or a commercial mobile data service. (3) Wireless telephone handsets; wireless devices The terms wireless telephone handset and wireless device mean a handset or other device that operates on a wireless telecommunications network.

Passed the House of Representatives February 25, 2014. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 1123 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 26, 2014 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary AN ACT To promote consumer choice and wireless competition by permitting consumers to unlock mobile wireless devices, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act . 2. Repeal of existing rule and additional rulemaking by Librarian of Congress (a) Repeal and replace As of the date of the enactment of this Act, paragraph (3) of section 201.40(b) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended and revised by the Librarian of Congress on October 28, 2012, pursuant to the Librarian’s authority under section 1201(a) of title 17, United States Code, shall have no force and effect, and such paragraph shall read, and shall be in effect, as such paragraph was in effect on July 27, 2010. (b) Rulemaking (1) In general The Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, who shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and report and comment on his or her views in making such recommendation, shall determine, consistent with the requirements set forth under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code, whether to extend the exemption for the class of works described in section 201.40(b)(3) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended by subsection (a), to include any other category of wireless devices in addition to wireless telephone handsets. (2) Timing of rulemaking (A) If this Act is enacted before June 1, 2014, the determination under paragraph (1) shall be made by not later than the end of the 9-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (B) If this Act is enacted on or after June 1, 2014, the determination under paragraph (1) shall be made in the first rulemaking under section 1201(a)(1)(C) of title 17, United States Code, that begins on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Unlocking at direction of owner (1) In general Circumvention of a technological measure that restricts wireless telephone handsets or other wireless devices from connecting to a wireless telecommunications network— (A) (i) as authorized by paragraph (3) of section 201.40(b) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as made effective by subsection (a), and (ii) as may be extended to other wireless devices pursuant to a determination in the rulemaking conducted under subsection (b), or (B) as authorized by an exemption adopted by the Librarian of Congress pursuant to a determination made on or after the date of enactment of this Act under section 1201(a)(1)(C) of title 17, United States Code, may be initiated by the owner of any such handset or other device, by another person at the direction of the owner, or by a provider of a commercial mobile radio service or a commercial mobile data service at the direction of such owner or other person, solely in order to enable such owner or a family member of such owner to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when such connection is authorized by the operator of such network. (2) No bulk unlocking Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit the unlocking of wireless handsets or other wireless devices, for the purpose of bulk resale, or to authorize the Librarian of Congress to authorize circumvention for such purpose under this Act, title 17, United States Code, or any other provision of law. (d) Rule of construction Except as provided in subsection (c), nothing in this Act alters, or shall be construed to alter, the authority of the Librarian of Congress under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code. (e) Definitions In this Act: (1) Commercial mobile data service; commercial mobile radio service The terms commercial mobile data service and commercial mobile radio service have the respective meanings given those terms in section 20.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Wireless telecommunications network The term wireless telecommunications network means a network used to provide a commercial mobile radio service or a commercial mobile data service. (3) Wireless telephone handsets; wireless devices The terms wireless telephone handset and wireless device mean a handset or other device that operates on a wireless telecommunications network.

Passed the House of Representatives February 25, 2014. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 264 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 1123 [Report No. 113–356] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 13, 2013 Mr. Goodlatte (for himself, Mr. Conyers , Mr. Coble , Mr. Watt , Mr. Poe of Texas , and Ms. DelBene ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary February 25, 2014 Additional sponsors: Ms. Lofgren , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Mr. Jeffries , Mr. Chaffetz , and Ms. McCollum February 25, 2014 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To promote consumer choice and wireless competition by permitting consumers to unlock mobile wireless devices, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act . 2. Repeal of existing rule and additional rulemaking by Librarian of Congress (a) Repeal and replace Paragraph (3) of section 201.40(b) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended and revised by the Librarian of Congress on October 28, 2012, pursuant to his authority under section 1201(a) of title 17, United States Code, shall have no force and effect, and such paragraph shall read, and shall be in effect, as such paragraph was in effect on July 27, 2010. (b) Rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, who shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and report and comment on his or her views in making such recommendation, shall determine, consistent with the requirements set forth under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code, whether to extend the exemption for the class of works described in section 201.40(b)(3) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended by subsection (a), to include any other category of wireless devices in addition to wireless telephone handsets. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this Act alters, or shall be construed to alter, the authority of the Librarian of Congress under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act . 2. Repeal of existing rule and additional rulemaking by Librarian of Congress (a) Repeal and replace Paragraph (3) of section 201.40(b) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended and revised by the Librarian of Congress on October 28, 2012, pursuant to the Librarian’s authority under section 1201(a) of title 17, United States Code, shall have no force and effect, and such paragraph shall read, and shall be in effect, as such paragraph was in effect on July 27, 2010, subject to subsections (c) and (d). (b) Rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, who shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and report and comment on his or her views in making such recommendation, shall determine, consistent with the requirements set forth under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code, whether to extend the exemption for the class of works described in section 201.40(b)(3) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, to include any other category of wireless devices in addition to wireless telephone handsets. (c) Unlocking at direction of purchaser or family member With respect to paragraph (3) of section 201.40(b) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as made effective by subsection (a) of this subsection, and with respect to any other category of wireless devices, in addition to wireless telephone handsets, with respect to which, as determined by the Librarian of Congress in a rulemaking conducted under subsection (b) or otherwise under section 1201(a)(1)(C) of title 17, United States Code, circumvention of a computer program by the owner of a copy of the program is permitted solely in order to connect to a wireless communications network when such connection is authorized by the operator of such network, in the case of a purchaser of such handset or device for personal use, such circumvention may be initiated by the purchaser, by a family member of such purchaser, or by another person at the direction of such purchaser or family member, for the sole use or benefit of such purchaser or family member. (d) Rule of construction Nothing in this Act alters, or shall be construed to alter, the authority of the Librarian of Congress under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code, including the authority, with respect to the applicable 3-year period, to modify or delete paragraph (3) of section 201.40(b) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, or modify or delete any category of wireless devices exempted under subsection (b) of this section.

February 25, 2014 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed