By ByteBot
Verizon started enforcing a 365-day phone lock period on January 20, 2026—just one week after the FCC granted a waiver eliminating the carrier’s 60-day automatic unlock requirement. TracFone division customers, including SafeLink, Straight Talk, Total Wireless, and Net10 users, now wait an entire year before requesting device unlocks. That’s a 6x increase from the previous policy. The FCC sided with Verizon’s fraud prevention claims despite fierce opposition from Public Knowledge, Consumer Reports, and the Benton Foundation, who argued the waiver reduces competition and disproportionately harms lower-income prepaid customers.
Verizon’s Unlock Policy Timeline: 7 Days from Waiver to Enforcement
The FCC published Order DA-26-43 on January 12, 2026, granting Verizon’s waiver. Seven days later, Verizon began enforcing 365-day locks for all new TracFone prepaid activations. This marks the fastest carrier policy enforcement in unlock history—suggesting Verizon had implementation ready before the FCC ruled.
The change applies to all TracFone brands: SafeLink Wireless, Straight Talk Wireless, Net10 Wireless, Walmart Family Mobile, Total Wireless, Go Smart Mobile, Page Plus, and Simple Mobile. Under the old policy, phones automatically unlocked after 60 days with zero customer action needed. Under the new CTIA-aligned policy, customers must wait 365 days AND proactively request unlock. It no longer happens automatically.
That “upon request” requirement is critical. Many prepaid users won’t know they need to ask for unlock. Their devices will remain locked indefinitely—not because of fraud prevention, but because of information asymmetry. Devices activated before January 20 are grandfathered under the 60-day automatic unlock policy. 9to5Google reports the policy went live immediately after FCC approval.
Fraud Prevention or Regulatory Capture?
Verizon justified the waiver by claiming a 55% fraud spike after TracFone’s acquisition forced a move from 365-day to 60-day locks, costing “hundreds of millions of dollars annually.” Consumer advocacy groups weren’t convinced. Public Knowledge Legal Director John Bergmayer stated: “Fraud is not unique to carriers that unlock after 60 days. Verizon has provided no evidence that a longer lock period would prevent its devices from being stolen.”
The fraud claims don’t hold up under scrutiny. Stolen phones are sold internationally where US carrier locks don’t matter—devices are unlocked via grey-market services or used on networks in Russia, China, and Cuba regardless of official carrier policy. If fraud was the real issue, AT&T should have far more theft with its 180-day prepaid locks (half of Verizon’s new policy). Verizon hasn’t published that data.
This looks less like fraud prevention and more like regulatory capture to reduce competition. Michael Calabrese, Director of Wireless Future Project at New America’s Open Technology Institute, called the decision “profoundly anti-consumer” and stated it “will do nothing but raise prices for mobile phone consumers.” The lack of public fraud data transparency raises serious questions about the FCC’s decision-making process. Droid Life called the FCC’s decision “bad for consumers.”
How Verizon’s Policy Harms Lower-Income Prepaid Users
Locked phones sell for 20-40% less than unlocked equivalents on the secondary market. A 365-day lock period means year-old devices are still worth significantly less when sold. This hits prepaid customers—often lower-income consumers who can’t afford $600-1200 unlocked phones at full retail price—hardest.
The policy creates a multi-layered barrier. First, customers can’t switch carriers for a full year, even if service quality degrades or competitors offer better pricing. Second, they must proactively request unlock—most won’t know to ask. Third, locked status reduces device trade-in and resale value throughout the lock period. Lower resale value means prepaid customers lose hundreds of dollars in device equity.
This disproportionately harms the exact customer segment prepaid services are supposed to serve affordably. It’s more than inconvenience—it’s a financial penalty that compounds over time, keeping customers locked into Verizon’s ecosystem through economic friction rather than service quality.
Verizon’s Phone Unlock Policy: From Best to Worst
Verizon went from the most consumer-friendly unlock policy to middle-tier restrictiveness. AT&T prepaid requires 180 days (6 months). T-Mobile prepaid requires 365 days—same as Verizon now. Verizon was the ONLY carrier with automatic unlocking. Now all major carriers align with CTIA “upon request” standards.
Before this waiver, Verizon’s 60-day automatic unlock was a competitive differentiator. Consumers chose Verizon prepaid partly for device freedom. Now, Verizon is tied with T-Mobile for most restrictive prepaid policy, while AT&T offers better terms at 180 days. The change eliminates Verizon’s unique consumer-friendly positioning.
This reveals regulatory “leveling down”—removing the most consumer-friendly policy rather than raising industry standards. If the FCC wanted uniformity, it could have required all carriers to match Verizon’s 60-day standard. Instead, it allowed Verizon to match competitors’ more restrictive policies, reducing consumer choice and eliminating competitive pressure for better unlock terms.
What You Can Do: Alternatives to Verizon’s 365-Day Lock
Devices activated before January 20, 2026, retain the 60-day automatic unlock policy (grandfathered). For new purchases, consumers have three options: wait 365 days and request unlock, buy unlocked devices directly from manufacturers, or choose AT&T prepaid for 180-day lock instead of 365 days.
Set a calendar reminder for day 365 to proactively contact Verizon—”upon request” means it won’t happen automatically. If carrier flexibility matters, buy unlocked phones from Google, Samsung, or Apple. Pay full retail upfront, but zero lock ever. Developers testing across carriers should budget for unlocked devices or longer procurement timelines.
The CTIA Consumer Code requires carriers to respond to unlock requests within 2 business days, but doesn’t prevent them from denying requests if accounts aren’t “in good standing”—a term Verizon defines with carrier discretion. Document all unlock requests (screenshots, email confirmations) in case carriers delay processing.
Key Takeaways
- 365-day lock started January 20, 2026: TracFone brands (SafeLink, Straight Talk, Total, Net10) now enforce year-long locks for new activations. Devices activated before January 20 are grandfathered under 60-day automatic unlock.
- FCC granted waiver despite consumer advocacy opposition: Public Knowledge, Consumer Reports, and Benton Foundation argued fraud claims lack evidence. Stolen phones are sold internationally where US locks don’t matter.
- Locked phones worth 20-40% less: Prepaid customers—often lower-income users who can’t afford unlocked devices—lose hundreds in resale value. Can’t switch carriers for a full year even if service degrades.
- Verizon eliminated automatic unlocking: Old policy: 60-day automatic unlock. New policy: 365-day manual unlock (customer must request). Many users won’t know to ask, leaving devices locked indefinitely.
- AT&T prepaid offers 180-day lock: Half the wait of Verizon/T-Mobile (365 days). If lock period matters, AT&T prepaid is the better option. Or buy unlocked devices from manufacturers (pay full retail, zero lock).
This isn’t fraud prevention. It’s regulatory rollback that reduces competition and locks consumers into carrier ecosystems through economic friction. The fastest policy enforcement in unlock history—7 days from FCC approval to active enforcement—reveals Verizon was ready to implement immediately. The question isn’t whether this harms consumers. It’s whether the FCC will reverse course or let other carriers follow Verizon’s lead.
