What my comment says is that this (the NTIA recommendation that is the subject of the article) might obviate part of the impetus for a pre-existing initiative (http://fixthedmca.org/unlocking-technology-act.html) that would essentially repeal anticircumvention, and thus could be a bad thing.

Edit: If you want to know what the Unlocking Technology Act would do, see http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/house-bill/1892/text, it's pretty short.

That seems to be the same POV that the Librarian took in not renewing the exemption (link from elsewhere in thread): http://www.eweek.com/mobile/fcc-suggests-congress-create-a-b...

Oh, sorry, I thought this was the Unlocking Technology Act. All clear now, and agreed, it would make more sense to let that go than merely the proposed unlocking exception.

It's pure political framing.

If the DMCA can be construed as preventing unlocking, then you can build a political coalition to repeal that part of the DMCA.

If cell phones are not locked then there is no political motive and when you go on TV as someone who is against that portion of the DMCA you're framed as a Blu-ray thief. If you can reframe it around cellphone unlocking then you're a hero.

Cellphones are viewed as a very personal device and long term contracts / locked phones are viewed as a restriction on freedom. If you can make it about freedom then you can get Americans on board.