FCC Grants Verizon Waiver from 60-Day Unlock Rule

The Federal Communications Commission granted Verizon a waiver on Friday from a longstanding rule requiring the carrier to automatically unlock mobile devices 60 days after activation, aligning its policies with industry standards to combat rising phone theft and fraud.

The decision, issued by the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, ends a requirement that applied only to Verizon among major U.S. carriers. Under the new arrangement, Verizon must now follow the CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service, a voluntary industry guideline. For prepaid devices, unlocking will occur no later than one year after activation upon customer request. Postpaid devices, typically financed over longer terms, can be unlocked once the contract, payment plan, or any early termination fee is satisfied. The change takes effect immediately for devices activated after the order's release, though phones activated prior to Friday remain subject to the 60-day rule.

The waiver stems from Verizon's May petition, in which the company argued that the shorter unlocking period made its handsets prime targets for criminals. Verizon reported a 55 percent increase in fraud following adjustments to its TracFone...