Phone Freedom: Most Americans Want to Switch Carriers Easily

A new survey shows that nine out of ten people in the United States want to be able to move their phones when they change providers. The study was done by Fabrizio Ward and it found that 93 % of voters think unlocking a phone should be as simple as keeping their number. Support is strong across politics, with 85 % of respondents in favor and only 6 % opposed. More than seven out of ten people said they strongly support the change. Many phones are locked to a single carrier, even if the buyer has paid off the device. Carriers say unlocking is complicated and costly, but people have already forced the industry to allow number portability. Now they want phones that can switch networks just as easily.

Three‑quarters of voters say that locking limits choice, hurts competition and keeps prices high. Nearly half feel their wireless bill is too expensive. If phones were unlocked, a household could save up to $1, 200 per year by switching plans. Three Republican senators sent a letter to the FCC in March. They asked the agency to require automatic unlocking after 180 days for all carriers. The senators called it a pro‑consumer, pro‑competition issue. With public opinion strongly in favor of phone freedom, lawmakers and regulators are under pressure to treat unlocking as a given. If carriers comply, customers could get better deals and phones would sell for more when they change hands.

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