Are you a nagger? Unleash the worst of you for a good cause and tell the FTC you need Right to Repair rules،
It doesn't matter if you're a bully (and you love to complain in detail and drive everyone around you crazy), or if you're the strong, quiet type, if you support the right to repair movement, it's is the time to act.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Wants Your Opinion, Says I fix it's latest long blog post.
On November 14, 2023, iFixit and the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) called on the U.S. federal government to regulate right to repair and asked the FTC to initiate rulemaking related to right to repair laws.
The FTC has announced the opening of a comment submission period. “This is the next key step, and popularity determines whether the FTC will respond to our petition with a proposed rule,” the iFixit blog reads:
We need your help. If you've ever wanted to say what's on your mind to someone, or really speak out about that one thing you wanted to fix and couldn't fix, now is your time. Tell your story to the FTC! Short, long, witty, profane, it's up to you. (Well, probably avoid the profanity #$*&#.)
So break your fingers, remember the last time you had a broken product with no good repair options, and tell your story to FTC.
The deadline is Friday February 2.
What's in the petition?
iFixit's petition proposed various ways the FTC could restore competition to repair markets across the country.
“We identified several ways companies could make repair easier and more widely available:”
- Accessibility of consumable components: Parts that wear out regularly, such as batteries, must be replaceable and readily available over the life of the product.
- Availability of common parts: components subject to wear must be easily replaceable.
- Freedom of choice in repairs: Consumers should have the freedom to choose their repairer or opt for DIY solutions.
- Durable product support: Even after a product has ceased production, its key functions must remain intact, with repairs possible through independent workshops.
- Interchangeability of identical components: Components of identical devices must be interchangeable without requiring intervention from the manufacturer.
- Consumer Privacy Protection: Independent repair shops should not be required to disclose customers' personal information to manufacturers.
“We suggested that the FTC could initiate a repairability labeling rule, adding repair information to the yellow Energy Guide labels on energy-intensive products like televisions and washing machines. Or perhaps they could require a period of availability of spare parts, tools or manuals.”
