FCC and carriers close to agreement on new phone unlocking policy

The Federal Communications Commission is close to completing a list of rules for cellphone unlocking with US carriers, according to a report. The new rules would govern how a carrier advises a consumer about unlocking and the timing of the unlocking process itself, with the deal between the mobile phone networks and FCC expected to be agreed upon in the near future.

The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 Thursday to consider lifting its ban on in-flight cell phone use.On the same day, the federal Department of Transportation and three members of Congress took steps to block those calls. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said in a statement to CNN that he is looking into the possibility of banning in-flight calls, citing its aviation consumer protection authority. The DOT will determine whether allowing calls is “fair to consumers.”