Right To Repair Legislation Championed By Consumers And Repair Shops Reaches U.S. House
The Right to repair movement is a hot topic as manufacturers of various products ranging from mobile devices to tractors have stood in the way of third-party repairs, which tend to be cheaper than the OEM repair method. Even the Federal Trade Commission has intervened over companies blocking right to repair with a recently released report. Now, lawmakers are joining in as well, with the introduction of right to repair legislation to the U.S House by congressman Joe Morelle (NY-D).
On Thursday, Congressman Morelle released the “Fair Repair Act,” which aims to “require OEMs to make diagnostic and repair information, parts, and tools available to third-party repairers and owners in a timely manner and on fair and reasonable terms.” The hope is that this move will balance the scales so that small businesses can remain in the market. As Morelle further explains, “This common-sense legislation will help make technology repairs more accessible and affordable for items from cell phones to laptops to farm equipment, finally giving individuals the autonomy they deserve.”
If decent after the first reading, we hope that this legislation swiftly passes the Congress to move toward becoming law. If you want to track House Resolution 4006 for yourself, you can do so here and keep an eye on updates. Also, let us know what you think of right to repair legislation in the comments below.
