Verizon Seeks Longer Phone Unlocking Period to Combat Fraud

Verizon has formally requested the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reconsider and extend the current 60-day phone unlocking rule. This regulation requires Verizon to unlock customers’ phones after 60 days, allowing them to switch carriers freely. The carrier argues that this timeframe is outdated and inadvertently benefits fraudsters.

The unlocking rule dates back to 2008 when the FCC imposed it following Verizon’s acquisition of C-Block spectrum. It was designed to promote competition by enabling customers to change carriers after purchasing a phone. In 2019, the FCC allowed Verizon to lock phones for 60 days post-purchase, a policy later extended to TracFone after Verizon acquired the prepaid provider.

Verizon now calls the 60-day unlocking period “burdensome and harmful,” claiming it does not effectively deter device fraud. The company points out that providers exempt from this rule typically enforce a minimum lock period of six months, which they argue is the industry standard.

According to Verizon, extending the lock period would benefit consumers by enabling the continuation of subsidies and other affordability programs. They also claim it would level the competitive playing field, removing what they describe as a “distorted” advantage currently faced by providers who must comply with the 60-day rule.

The FCC is considering new rules that would require all carriers, including T-Mobile and AT&T, to unlock phones after 60 days of activation. Verizon’s request challenges this direction, emphasizing the need to balance fraud prevention with consumer choice.

This debate highlights the tension between regulatory efforts to empower consumers and the telecom industry's need to prevent fraud and maintain affordable pricing models. Extending the unlocking period could reshape how carriers manage device security and customer mobility.