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AT&T and T-Mobile Claim Locked Phones Are Good, Actually

Mobile carriers argue that locking devices helps them lower costs. Consumer protection groups see it a little differently.

T-Mobile and other carriers are responding to a call for public comments that began after the FCC approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking(NPRM) in a 5–0 vote. When the FCC proposed the 60-day unlocking rule in July 2024, the agency criticized T-Mobile for locking prepaid phones for a year. "Our policies allow us to deliver access to high-speed mobile broadband on a nationwide 5G network via handsets that are free or heavily discounted off the manufacturer's suggested retail price.

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