US Lawmakers Introduce 'Right To Repair' Bills To Spur Competition

U.S. lawmakers are introducing "Right to Repair" legislation this week to ensure consumers can get vehicles, electronic devices and agriculture equipment serviced by independent outlets. Reuters reports: Representative Bobby Rush, a Democrat, said Thursday he had introduced legislation to ensure vehicle owners and independent repair shops have equal access to repair and maintenance tools as automakers' dealerships. Representatives Mondaire Jones, a Democrat, and Republican Victoria Spartz introduced separate legislation Wednesday dubbed the Freedom to Repair Act to reform copyright law to make it easier for consumers to get repairs. Public Knowledge Policy Counsel Kathleen Burke said the bill would allow "consumers to repair their own devices without needing to get the Copyright Office's permission every three years."

Rush's bill would require all tools and equipment, wireless transmission of repair and diagnostic data and access to on-board diagnostic systems needed for repairs be made available to the independent repair industry. Rush said it would "end manufacturers' monopoly on vehicle repair and maintenance and allow Americans the freedom to choose where to repair their vehicles." Rush's bill would create a committee to provide recommendations to the FTC on addressing barriers to vehicle repairs. Yesterday, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced a bill to allow farmers to fix their own equipment. Specifically, the bill "would require agriculture equipment manufacturers to make spare parts, instruction manuals and software codes publicly available, allowing farmers to fix devices by themselves or hire third-party mechanics of their own choosing," reports NBC News.

All of these bills should be

[RitchCraft]

... made into one bill that makes right to repair across all platforms and systems. All vehicles (including farm implements), electronics, appliances. I remember when schematics and parts layout diagrams were the norm for everything purchased. Hell, pasted on the inside of electronics there used to be a handy schematic to refer to. Bring those days back.

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[Tailhook]

Addressing each industry separately creates more opportunities for these politicians to shake down the leading manufacturers for campaign money, no-show jobs, foundations contributions, etc.

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[jm007]

damn, thought I was a cynic... was that an offhand remark or do you really think that (and why)?

legit question... is it that conspiratorial?... or maybe that's not the right word... is legislation systematically rationed out for political gain like you suggest?

when I see the question typed out... it seems naive of me to even ask.... but if so, that IS dark

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[jm007]

have to reply to my own post cuz I can't edit... and after a re-read, it could be clearer

I know that legislation for political gain happens... what I'm specifically referring to is the notion of kneecapping legislation that could solve a problem comprehensively and instead, like you said, view each implementation of the same legislation across industries as a separate opportunity for political gain

are there any examples?

anyway, hope this makes sense as a question

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[geekmux]

...what I'm specifically referring to is the notion of kneecapping legislation that could solve a problem comprehensively and instead, like you said, view each implementation of the same legislation across industries as a separate opportunity for political gain

are there any examples?

Perhaps the more logical question to ask yourself; are there any examples of comprehensive efficiency, as you propose?

I doubt it, and there's your answer; Tradition.

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[Tailhook]

Not offhand at all. It's standard operating procedure in Western nations.

It's an election year in the US. Midterms. Proposing laws like this delivers two crucial benefits: First, it provides a platform; something to put on the website and cite in campaign speeches. Second, it motivates the targeted parties to send in the lobbyists and get the contribution money flowing.

Successful legislators become extremely wealthy despite limited official incomes. How else do you think that happens? They use the

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[jm007]

thanks for replying

probably too late to continue this convo but just in case... all what you wrote I already understood, what I was hoping to explore an example or two of the specific rationing of legislation, as you suggested earlier

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[fermion]

All consumer devices should have the infrastructure to be repaired as the consumer chooses. This bills fails in that because it still allows tricks like the Auto Industry to charge huge fees for products needed to repair. If the bill does not mandate reasonable costs,we are just moving the process from the dealer to over priced unqualified independent shops.

As far as commercial equipment, if some farmer wants to pay a doped up high school dropout to repair a half million dollars of machinery then I suppos

And thanks to the filibuster

[rsilvergun]

And voters tendency to punish the party in the White House during the midterms none of these bills have a snowball's chance in hell of passing. Almost as if that's the entire point of the filibuster in that it can shield do nothing congressmen from criticism that they never do anything while blocking anyone in Congress who actually tries to get things done.

Remember folks, vote your primary election, don't listen to what politicians say get a list of their stance on important policy issues and Google your candidates and read a little bit about them before voting in your primary. Do that and you'll quickly spot who's going to sell you out and who isn't. By the time you get to the general all you can do is pick a lesser evil but if you vote in your primary you can actually vote for a candidate who's going to do things for you

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[jdawgnoonan]

The problem with our primary system is that you have to declare that you are a member of one of the worthless political parties here in the US. Both parties have stances and tendencies that terrify me.

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[CaptQuark]

Not every state works that way. For non-Presidential primaries, there are many different types of primary ballot systems: Closed, Partially Closed, Partially Open, Open to Unaffiliated Voters, Open, Top-Two, and Hybrid Top-Two.

Non-Presidential Primary Types [ncsl.org]

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[DNS-and-BIND]

Weird...when the Democrats were in the minority, the filibuster was an important tool of democracy to ensure that the majority doesn't run roughshod over the little guy. Is this 1984? Have we always been at war with Eurasia?

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[radoni]

The problem is that to filibuster you don't even need to be present anymore, merely check a box that says you intend to filibuster.

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[rkhalloran]

There's been enough outcry in the farm-belt states about vendor lock-in (John Deere seems to be the chief offender here) that at least some of this may get through; NO Congress-critter, even from mostly-urban states, wants to be on the record as voting against farmers. That may at least get a foot in the door for other similar bills later on, if not now.

Good

[phantomfive]

Glad to see this stuff getting positive attention.