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Verizon was forced to accept a deal it didn't like 10 years ago when it acquired a license for the 700MHz "Block C" spectrum. That's one of the primary chunks of spectrum for Verizon'southward LTE network, and it's been forced to sell all its LTE devices carrier-unlocked e'er since. Now, Verizon has announced it will brainstorm locking phones again, at least until they're activated. Verizon says this is to combat device theft, but it seems like Verizon just wants an excuse to lock its phones downwardly again.

The 2008 spectrum auction was a large deal for the impending rollout of 4G LTE service in the United states. The 700MHz Cake C bands offering first-class propagation through obstacles in an urban setting, so there was a great bargain of interest in acquiring it. Thank you to a big initial bid from Google, the FCC'due south open admission rules were fastened to the spectrum. As a effect, Verizon had to agree to allow uniform devices to access its LTE network, and more importantly, information technology had to sell its LTE devices unlocked for use on any network. That was a huge win for consumers.

According to Verizon, shipping phones unlocked has fabricated them a target for theft. The phones are more probable to go missing on the style to the carrier'south stores or to consumers, because thieves know they can get a college price for unlocked phones that work on whatsoever network. Although, Verizon should simply exist able to blacklist the IMEI numbers of stolen phones so they don't piece of work on whatsoever network.

Starting this spring, Verizon phones will transport locked to the carrier'south network, which is the same as all the other major carriers. Afterwards the telephone is activated on Verizon's network, information technology can be unlocked free of accuse. At a later engagement, Verizon plans to institute a waiting period before phones tin be unlocked. Supposedly, the waiting menses is at that place to deter scammers from signing up for service using stolen identities to unlock a phone and immediately selling the devices.

Verizon's proposed policy is even so the virtually generous of any of the major carriers, which usually require a phone to be paid off before they will unlock information technology. However, this does appear to run afoul of the open access rules Verizon agreed to follow when information technology won the spectrum auction. Information technology'due south up to the FCC to enforce this requirement, and the electric current leadership of the agency doesn't seem very concerned with consumer protection. In fact, chairman Ajit Pai is a former Verizon lawyer.

While Verizon'southward carrier unlock policy is notwithstanding ameliorate than the contest, it seems insufficient because the open access agreement attached to the Cake C spectrum. Verizon merely knows the FCC won't practice anything nigh it.