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Apple, Verizon, and other tech giants are lobbying against your right to repair your mobile devices. The Fair Repair Act is a bill recently introduced to the New York Senate. The bill is currently in committee, this is the time to write to representatives. There are similar bills currently introduced in 11 other states as well. So why should you, the consumer, care?
The Fair Repair Act would require manufacturers of digital parts sold or used in New York to make available manufacturer diagnostic and repair information and tools for purchase for independent repair facilities. If passed, it would apply to equipment and parts manufactured in 2012 or later. It would also introduce a public outreach program to make the public aware of the legislation. Any company found to violate the new legislation would face a fine- any and every time the terms are found to be violated.
Obviously the tech giants are fighting the bill, as repairs for items such as smartphones, laptops, and watches would no longer necessitate a lengthy visit to the manufacturer and endless discussions about warranty eligibility. I mean, everyone loves a good old 4-hour visit to the Apple Store to talk with the “geniuses” there about why your year-old iPhone is no longer eligible for warranty coverage.
The legislation is not exclusive to smartphones and their ilk, but would cover a multitude of devices such as TV’s, computers, watches, tablets, and more. The only exceptions to the legislation are vehicles and certain medical devices.
Imagine a world where you bring your shattered phone to any independent repair shop, and walk out an hour later with a manufacturer-quality repair. No annoying hoops to jump, no digging in your wallet for receipts.
The Fair Repair Act would also serve to keep the field of technology repair competitive in the best way. If all independent repair establishments had access to original diagnostic tools, then said businesses’ success would rely solely on the quality of their repairs and on their experience in the field.
Although the Fair Repair Act is limited to New York currently, it will have far-reaching consequences. The public needs to set the right precedent and let tech giants know that we demand the ability to reasonably repair our hard-earned devices. If the bill passes in New York, we can only expect similar bills in other states to follow. Hopefully by raising awareness, we can secure reasonably priced and high quality repairs for all consumers.
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