Bill C-560 (Historical)
Cell Phone Freedom Act
An Act respecting the locking of cellular telephones
This bill was last introduced in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session, which ended in March 2011.
Sponsor
Bruce Hyer NDP
Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)
Status
Introduction and First Reading
(This bill did not become law.)
Elsewhere
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, provided by the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Bruce Hyer Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-560, An Act respecting the locking of cellular telephones.
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce the cell phone freedom act. This bill would take an important step toward providing more consumer choice and to promoting competition in the wireless market. It would strike a healthy balance on the issue of mobile phone network locks.
Most Canadian consumers do not know that their cell phones are locked to work only on the network of the carrier they bought their phone from and that they cannot easily move to a competitor. Unlike most other countries, Canada does not yet regulate these network locks. That diminishes competition. There is much less consumer choice and freedom of movement between service providers, and higher prices and worse services for consumers.
The cell phone freedom act would level the playing field for Canadian cell phone customers. Consumers buying new cell phones in Canada would be informed of any network lock on their phones before sale. Phone companies would have to unlock new phones upon request, without charge, at the end of their service contracts.
Let us stand up for competition and consumers and support the cell phone freedom act.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)