S. 517 · 113th Congress
Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act
Law · 113-144 · Aug 1, 2014Key: what the circles and colors mean
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Became law without a recorded vote. It passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record how each member voted.
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LeahySponsor10 cosponsors · 6 D, 4 R
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Franken
CG
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Grassley
OH
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Hatch
AK
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Klobuchar
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Lee
SW
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Whitehouse
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Thune
MB
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Bennet
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Blumenthal
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Coons5 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
- Senate Introduced Mar 11, 2013
- Senate Passed Jul 15, 2014
- House Passed Jul 25, 2014
- President To the President Jul 28, 2014
- President Signed Aug 1, 2014
- Law Aug 1, 2014
Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act - Repeals a Library of Congress (LOC) rulemaking determination, made upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, regarding the circumvention of technological measures controlling access to copyrighted software on wireless telephone handsets (mobile telephones) for the purpose of connecting to…
What it does: CRS summary · Public Law · Aug 1, 2014
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on July 10, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act - Repeals a Library of Congress (LOC) rulemaking determination, made upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, regarding the circumvention of technological measures controlling access to copyrighted software on wireless telephone handsets (mobile telephones) for the purpose of connecting to different wireless telecommunications networks (a practice commonly referred to as "unlocking" such devices). Reestablishes, as an exemption to provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) prohibiting such circumvention, a previous LOC rule permitting the use of computer programs, in the form of firmware or software, that enable used wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when circumvention is initiated by the owner of the copy of such computer program solely to connect to such a network and access to the network is authorized by the network operator, thus permitting unlocked phones.
Directs the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register, to determine whether to extend such exemption to include any other category of wireless devices in addition to wireless telephone handsets (e.g., tablets and other mobile broadband-enabled devices).
Allows such circumvention (unlocking) to be initiated by the owner of such a device, by another person at the direction of the owner, or by a provider of a commercial mobile radio service or a commercial mobile data service at the direction of such owner or other person, solely in order to enable such owner or a family member of such owner to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when such connection is authorized by the operator of such network.
Prohibits this Act from being construed to alter any party's rights under existing law.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act
Latest action (Aug 1, 2014): Became Public Law No: 113-144.
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Mar 11, 2013
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
- Senate Introduced Mar 11, 2013
- Senate Passed Jul 15, 2014
- House Passed Jul 25, 2014
- President To the President Jul 28, 2014
- President Signed Aug 1, 2014
- Law Aug 1, 2014
No recorded floor vote found.