[Off-topic] zatz:
It's almost so bad, I imagine this thread might be locked if we even reference it.

Cell / Smart phone forums have unanimously united behind the firm belief that changing an ESN for any reason is illegal.

I definitely understand this. I understand forums get cease-and-desist letters for allowing controversial conversations, and frankly XDA has too much cool stuff going on to care about ESN changing. The primary focus of XDA seems to be on firmware hacking and development, and this just happens to lend itself to be an excellent place to discuss cell phone flashing. But XDA isn't the battleground if there's going to be any webhost-level challenge to the idea that changing an ESN can be perfectly fine.

But there's a lot of mass-ferver behind the statement that changing an ESN is illegal, while very little trial-based evidence. And regardless of the actual legality of things, the hysteria seems extreme. How so many people rise to the comment box to loudly proclaim that ESN CHANGING IS ILLEGAL is beyond me.

Wireless Workship, a business that sells their flashing service to US phone dealers nationwide, changes ESNs. They offer a tool called EZ Donor. DFS CDMA Tool and CDMA Workshop advertise and sell software with the feature to change the ESN.

Stores and individuals in the US nationwide offer flashing services by changing ESNs. Phones with altered ESNs to enable service on other carriers are sold on eBay, and have been for as long as it's been a thing.

I have yet to find a single court case pertaining to someone changing an ESN on a phone they own, to get service on a plan they pay for, or on a store front changing ESNs as a service.

So why the craziness? Because people learn about flashing on forums, which are bullied by the establishment. None of this resistance to ESN changing comes from real court cases or even an accurate interpretation of the law.

I'm not a lawyer. And neither are the majority of people that hold this discussion. But maybe we can debate what's common sense. Everywhere the FCC references changing an ESN or MEID, it's in the context of someone committing real victim-based fraud - mainly sniffing credentials out of the air to make free calls on a victim's account.

Forums and the industrial establishment tell one narrative, while the flashing industry lives another. Which is a shame, because while the industry benefits on both sides (less flashing competition), people who attempt to take control of their own devices are left in a dust storm of misinterpretation.

I'm not necessarily posting this to have a discussion on the legality of ESN changing, though you're welcome to make your point if you feel I'm out of line. I'm mainly posting this to make my voice heard. If it gets locked because I muttered voodoo, then hopefully it doesn't get deleted, and at least these ideas get their chance to debut in the supposedly free West.

Also, I'd like to make myself known to anyone out there as a person who's willing to join a cause. I'm happy to launch and attempt to hold a forum where people are free to discuss ESN changing. If anyone out there feels the same and wants to attempt this, then consider me a team member.

Enjoy Thanksgiving everyone and have a safe holiday.