Biden, you have the right to repair your FTC Tech. This is good news for people who break their phones

We’re all there: the moment you drop your smartphone, you see it roll to the ground and your stomach starts to spin. He spins twice, and back down, then there is a half-second full of fear as they reach down to pick him up, hoping the screen isn’t cracked. If you’re lucky, that’s where it ends. But it’s only a matter of time before the display breaks down, and “How much does this cost me?” You ask.

The government cannot help you if you are at risk, but A recent executive order from President Joe Biden And new Policy Statement from the Federal Trade Commission Both are designed to help you save some money the next time you fix your phone.

Biden Executive Order, It was released in early July, After years of debate over the “right to repair” advocates, and in theory the manufacturers of telephones, cars and washing machines, as well as manufacturers Valuable farm equipment And to post publicly the diagnostic tools and documents used to repair medical equipment products. This allows people to adjust the product themselves or go to a third-party repair shop instead of relying on the more expensive “officially” licensed repair centers on a daily basis.

The FCC quickly followed up on Biden’s order by voting 5-0 in a policy statement stating that it would look into any warranty or repair restrictions that would violate anti-religious laws.

The Right to Repair movement has been around for some time, and victories in states such as Massachusetts have already won. In 2020, voters passed a bill that would allow them to access all kinds of information on cars that are not manufactured by conventional manufacturers. Public

Below are some common questions about the concept of maintenance rights, what it means to you, and what the government is actually doing right to repair. (This story has been updated with new information)

‘What is the right to repair?’

The right to repair is provided by consumers and third party companies, such as a blender or a new laptop, with the necessary tools, components, and manuals to repair the product on their own.

Another aspect of the repair right that is currently being discussed is forcing technology companies to design and build products that are easy to repair.

For example, Apple AirPode wireless headphones are surprisingly small, which is a fake for them, but the repair website says iFixIt. Impossible to repair. This is a problem when you think your batteries are going to run out a few years after you get your AirPods. But instead of being able to disconnect them and replace the batteries, you may have to buy another pair.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

What does the right to repair mean to you as a consumer?

If the government has a right-to-right maintenance law at the state or federal level, it will give you the option to try the repair yourself without canceling the warranty.

If you now have a cracked iPhone display and are trying to replace it yourself or make it to a local repair shop, that person and / or company is not Apple’s authorized service provider, or the replacement screen is not Apple’s approved part, your iPhone can no longer be covered by Apple warranty.

Maintenance-rights laws may also encourage more competition for repair services, which can lower prices from third-party repair shops, from your phone to medical equipment to tractors.

What does the right to repair mean to the environment?

It reduces the amount of waste and e-waste that goes into our trash by allowing consumers to repair their own products and prolong their life.

Do technology companies have the right to repair or do they object?

Opinions are mixed. Last year, Bloomberg published a story on maintenance rights, and companies such as Apple, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft published more than just legislation and legislation to stop repairs.

the reason? Intellectual Property and Security. He argues that if companies are forced to publish programs, manuals, and sell official parts to anyone, the company will be in danger of copying their products.

For safety reasons, an untrained person replacing a battery may endanger personal safety, for example, by accidentally causing the batteries to burn out.

At the same time, companies like Apple are slowing down Opened support for free repair shops. Critics say Apple isn’t doing enough.

Who supports the right to repair?

While companies are cautious about supporting this movement, a growing number of technology and social media influencers are pushing for it.

One of them is Kyle Weins, head of iFixit, an online guide and parts supply station. Go to the legislature around the country to encourage them to think Repair rights laws. He refused to share the latest sales figures, but In 2016, it sold $ 21 million worth of gadgets and parts to help people exchange bad screens, cameras, buttons and batteries on their devices.

Another prominent figure in the community was Louis Rossman, a New York-based maintenance shop owner who trained more than 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube. Over the years, the right to repair has been increasingly advocated, most recently by the charity, the struggle for repair and maintenance team.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak also spoke in support of Rosman in a July Camera video.

“If we hadn’t grown up in a very open world of technology, we wouldn’t have had Apple,” Viaz said in the video. Now is the time to start doing the right thing … It’s time to recognize the right to a more complete overhaul.

How is the government involved in maintenance rights?

According to the Maintenance Association, a total of 32 states have considered or are in the process of ratifying the right to repair law since 2014.

By 2021 alone, 27 states are currently considering maintenance legislation, according to U.S. public interest research groups. Both the Maintenance Association and the US PRC are working with lawmakers to formulate and approve right-to-right repairs.

New York State Senate He passed the Maintenance Act in June, but it still needs to be passed by the Assembly before it can be enacted.

At the federal level, Biden signed the executive order, among other things, asking FCC to consider using “repair”-related independent repair shops or enacting anti-competitive sanctions for DIY repairs on your own equipment. Phones The FTP takes into account the same maintenance rules for farmers and makes it easier to repair expensive equipment such as tractors.

The recent announcement by the FCC “to increase law enforcement” regarding maintenance restrictions is another positive sign that the government is taking steps to pressure and prosecute consumers to prevent consumers from upgrading their equipment.

What are other countries doing about the right to repair?

Beginning July 1, some manufacturers in the UK will be required to provide replacement parts for their product owners.

The new law is not limited to all electronic devices, such as smartphones or computers. Instead, it is limited to equipment.

Manufacturers have two years to supply spare parts, and those parts must be available for many years after the company stops producing a specific product. But the law does not cover all the components that make up a product. Instead, the bill is limited to “safe” and home-made repairs. According to the BBC, for example, heating elements or engines need to be repaired by a “professional repairman”.

What’s next for the right to repair?

We need to wait and see how the FCC will begin implementing the new policy statement. It is a matter of being vigilant.

In addition to monitoring FTC, we will continue to monitor the ongoing maintenance-repair legislation across the country at various stages of the process.