FCC Ends Verizon-Only Unlock Rule, Moves Carriers Toward Uniform Policy
FCC waives Verizon's separate 60-day unlock rule, aligning its policy with CTIA rules and rivals: postpaid phones unlock after payoff; prepaid devices must unlock within up to a year (AT&T and T-Mobile apply different prepaid timelines). The move targets handset fraud tied to Verizon's TracFone deal; consumers can also buy unlocked devices directly from manufacturers to avoid carrier restrictions.
