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FCC blasts T-Mobile’s 365-day phone locking, proposes 60-day unlock rule

T-Mobile raised lock period for prepaid Metro brand from 180 to 365 days.

Citing frustration with mobile carriers enforcing different phone-unlocking policies that are bad for consumers, the Federal Communications Commission is proposing a 60-day unlocking requirement that would apply to all wireless providers. A merger condition imposed on T-Mobile's purchase of Sprint merely requires that it unlock prepaid phones within one year. For postpaid devices, T-Mobile says it will unlock phones that have been active for at least 40 days, but only if any associated financing or leasing agreement has been paid in full.

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