July 1 marked the compliance date for installing anti-theft, “kill switch” technology on phones; while cellphone theft is still too common, “kill switch” technology is deterring theft, with 32 percent fewer Americans having their phones stolen last year, as compared to 2013
Klobuchar, a leader in consumer protection for phone customers, today called on the FCC and the wireless industry to help ensure that companies follow through on their commitment and continue to do everything possible to prevent mobile device theft
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the wireless industry to continue their commitment to preventing cell phone theft. July 1 marked the compliance date for wireless industry companies that signed a voluntary commitment to provide anti-theft, "kill switch" technology on phones so that users can wipe personal information from their device and render it inoperable to thieves. That date also marked the compliance dates for “kill switch” requirement laws in Minnesota and California. While cellphone theft is still too common, “kill switch” technology is deterring theft, with 32 percent fewer Americans having their phones stolen last year, as compared to 2013. Klobuchar sent letters to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and CTIA – The Wireless Association President and CEO Meredith Attwell Baker calling on them to help ensure that companies follow through on their commitment and continue to do everything possible to prevent mobile device theft.
“Cell phone theft is still a major problem, but by installing 'kill switches' on smartphones, we are helping deter thieves,” said Klobuchar. “We need to continue to ensure that manufacturers and carriers are compliant with the voluntary agreement and with state laws. I hope the FCC and the industry will not let this issue rest and will continue to make progress.”
The Smartphone Anti-Theft Voluntary Commitment was signed by 17 companies, including Apple, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Samsung, and Microsoft.
Klobuchar is a leader in efforts to prevent cell phone theft and protect consumers’ personal data. She has reintroduced the Smartphone Theft Prevention Act with Senators Mikulski (D-MD), Blumenthal (D-CT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), which would require all phones sold in the United States to include “kill switch” type technology free of charge so that consumers can wipe their personal data off the phone, render the phone permanently inoperable to anyone but the owner, and prevent it from being reactivated on a network by anyone but the owner. Similar legislation has been passed in Minnesota and California that also went into effect on July 1.
The full text of Klobuchar’s letters are below:
Dear Chairman Wheeler:
Thank you for your continued attention to the issue of mobile device theft. July 1 marked the compliance date for the Smartphone Anti-Theft Voluntary Commitment as well as the implementation of the California and Minnesota laws. While industry groups have said that they are in compliance, I urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to remain diligent and to continue working on ways to combat smartphone theft.
By installing “kill switches” on smartphones we are deterring theft. The Consumer Reports National Research Center recently found that 2.1 million Americans had their phones stolen last year. While this is still a significant number, this is a 32 percent decrease from 2013. Additionally, places like New York City and San Francisco have also seen decreasing rates of stolen iPhones since Apple first began installing anti-theft protections. While I am pleased that so much progress is being made, I will continue to fight for consumers and their safety in Congress.
I applaud the partnerships between industry and law enforcement to educate consumers about how to protect themselves and their information and am encouraged by CTIA’s commitment to continuing these efforts. Additionally, I applaud the work that the FCC’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has done in identifying additional ways for the industry to protect consumers. I urge the industry and the Commission to act on some of the TAC’s additional recommendations, including exploring option to have unique identifiers on mobile devices to help track stolen phones.
We need to continue to ensure that manufacturers and carriers are compliant with the voluntary agreement and state laws. I hope the FCC will not let this issue rest and will continue to make progress and I offer my assistance in these endeavors. Please feel free to contact my office with any updates as you continue your work on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Dear Ms. Attwell Baker:
Thank you for your continued attention to the issue of mobile device theft. July 1 marked the compliance date for the Smartphone Anti-Theft Voluntary Commitment as well as the implementation of the California and Minnesota laws. I appreciate your acknowledgement of this deadline and statement that the voluntary commitment is fulfilled. However, we should not turn our attention away from this issue. I urge CTIA- the Wireless Industry Association and its members to continue working on ways to combat smartphone theft.
By installing “kill switches” on smartphones we are deterring theft. The Consumer Reports National Research Center recently found that 2.1 million Americans had their phones stolen last year. While this is still a significant number, this is a 32 percent decrease from 2013. Additionally, places like New York City and San Francisco have also seen decreasing rates of stolen iPhones since Apple first began installing anti-theft protections. While I am pleased that so much progress is being made, I will continue to fight for consumers and their safety in Congress.
I applaud the partnerships between industry and law enforcement to educate consumers about how to protect themselves and their information and am encouraged by CTIA’s commitment to continuing these efforts and to complying with the new laws. Additionally, I applaud the work that the FCC’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has done in identifying additional ways for the industry to protect consumers. I urge the industry and the Commission to act on some of the TAC’s additional recommendations, including exploring option to have unique identifiers on mobile devices to help track stolen phones.
I look forward to continuing to work with the industry on this issue. I hope that you and your members will continue to educate consumers, work with law enforcement, and comply with the new state laws. Please feel free to contact my office with any updates as you continue to work on this important issue.
Sincerely,
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