“The Commission fails to point to specific statutory authorization for an unlocking mandate and would have profound economic consequences, thus raising a major question that would require clear statutory authority from Congress.”
Verizon has unlocked phones within 60 days since 2019 and still sells payment plans. T-Mobile’s own Mint Mobile works under the same 60-day rule. T-Mobile still tells the FCC the change could end payment plans and that Congress has to approve it first. Locked phones keep customers from leaving, and that’s the “profound economic consequence” T-Mobile is worried about.