Federal Communications Commission DA 25-490 DA 25-490 Released: June 6, 2025 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON VERIZON’S PETITION FOR WAIVER OF THE COMMISSION’S SECTION 27.16(e) HANDSET UNLOCKING RULE AND VERIZON’S TRACFONE UNLOCKING COMMITMENT WT Docket Nos. 06-150 and 24-186 GN Docket No. 21-112 Comments Due: July 7, 2025 Reply Comments Due: July 21, 2025 The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau seeks comment on a petition for waiver filed by Verizon on May 19, 2025, in WT Docket Nos. 06-150 and 24-186 and GN Docket No. 21-112, regarding the handset unlocking rule in section 27.16(e) of the Commission’s rules that applies to Verizon as a 700 MHz C-Block licensee and the handset unlocking commitment that applies to Verizon as a condition of the Commission’s approval of Verizon’s acquisition of Tracfone. Verizon Request for Waiver, Regarding the Commission’s Ban on Locking Handsets for C-Block Licensees, WT Docket Nos. 06-150, 24-186 and GN Docket No. 21-112 (filed May 19, 2025) (Verizon Petition). See also 47 CFR § 27.16(e); Service Rules for the 698–746, 747–762 and 777–792 MHz Bands, WT Docket 06-150, Second Report and Order, 22 FCC Rcd 15289 (2007); Service Rules for the 698–746, 747–762 and 777–792 MHz Bands, WT Docket No. 06-150, Order, 34 FCC Rcd 5134 (WTB 2019); Application of Verizon Communications Inc and America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. for Consent To Transfer Control of International Section 214 Authorization, GN Docket No. 21-112, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 36 FCC Rcd 16994 (2021); Promoting Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Through Handset Unlocking Requirements and Policies, WT Docket No. 24-186, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 24-77 (rel. July 19, 2024). Specifically, Verizon argues that pursuant to section 1.3 of the Commission’s rules good cause exists for the Commission to waive Verizon’s obligation to comply with the handset unlocking rule of section 27.16(e) and the Tracfone handset unlocking commitment until such time as the Commission decides on an appropriate industry-wide handset unlocking approach. Verizon Petition at 19. Verizon argues that the handset unlocking provisions that it is subject to are contrary to the public interest because these provisions harm consumers, competition, and promote handset fraud. Id. at 1–2. Verizon asserts that these provisions are part of an outdated regulatory structure that no longer applies to today’s wireless marketplace. Id. at 3. Finally, Verizon argues waiving these provisions is consistent with recent legal developments and with promoting a deregulatory approach where market forces are able to protect consumers and competition. Id. at 3–4. Ex Parte Rules. The proceeding shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must: (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Filing Requirements. Interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document and must reference WT Docket Nos. 06-150 and 24-186 and GN Docket No. 21-112. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). · Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs. · Paper Filers: Parties filing by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. o Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial courier, or by the U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. o Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the FCC’s mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. o Commercial courier deliveries (any deliveries not by the U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. o Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express must be sent to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. People with Disabilities. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530. Availability of Documents. Comments, reply comments, and ex parte submissions will be available via ECFS. Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat. Additional Information. For further information about this proceeding, contact Eli Johnson, FCC, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Competition & Infrastructure Policy Divisions, Eli.Johnson@fcc.gov. -FCC- 2