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Ontario Private Member's Bill Demands Wireless Transparency, Unlocking Phones

By Michael Geist

A new Ontario Private Member's bill introduced by MPP David Orazietti focused on wireless services would establish new transparency requirements and mandate unlocking cellphones upon contract expiry.  The key provisions of Bill 133 include:

• a long list of disclosure requirements related to the costs associated with service plans, advertisements, roaming charges, or when consumers are nearing their monthly cap
• a requirement to unlock devices if consumers pay full price or once the contract expires.  The provision states that a service provider must "remove, free of charge after the agreement expires, any technological or physical feature that restricts the functioning of the goods to a service provided by the supplier or another particular service provider."
• no amendments to contracts without express consumer consent
• the right to cancel a service contract with 30 days notice.  Consumers are subject to a maximum liability of one month service fee.  If the consumer obtained a discounted phone, there is a formula for repaying the remaining benefits.

The bill comes as the new wireless entrants complain about "anti-consumer" practices by the incumbent carriers.

Full post as published by Michael Geist on November 19, 2010 (boomark / email).