{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=0fcf598a-e91b-42fb-9f5c-f2162f42e672", "Klobuchar Calls for Action to Crack Down on Cell Phone Thefts", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Nearly one-in-three robberies involve phone theft and consumers lose more than $30 billion each year to lost and stolen phones; in Minnesota, recent cell phone thefts at the Mall of America and the University of Minnesota have threatened public safety \r\n In a letter to wireless industry leaders, Klobuchar urges companies to take action to stem mobile device thefts by ensuring consumers have access to the most advanced security features such as a \u201ckill switch\u201d\u00a0 \r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today called on the wireless industry to take action to crack down on cell phone thefts. The thefts are becoming a growing problem across the country with nearly one-in-three robberies involving phone theft. It\u2019s estimated that each year consumers lose more than $30 billion to lost or stolen phones. In Minnesota, recent cell phone thefts at the Mall of America and the University of Minnesota have threatened public safety. In a letter to wireless industry leaders, Klobuchar urged companies to take action to stem mobile device thefts by ensuring consumers have access to the most advanced security features, such as a \u201ckill switch\u201d that would deter criminals who intend to illegally resell the devices.\r\n\u201cMobile devices aren\u2019t just telephones anymore \u2013 increasingly people\u2019s livelihoods depend on them,\u201d Klobuchar said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we need to do more to crack down on criminals who are stealing and reselling these devices, costing consumers billions every year. The wireless industry needs to step up to the plate and address these thefts, and make sure consumers have the most advanced security technology at their fingertips.\u201d\r\nKlobuchar is a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and chairs the Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, and has been a leader in standing up for consumers and boosting competition in the marketplace. She authored legislation\u2014the Cell Phone Consumer Empowerment Act and the Wireless Consumer Choice Act\u2014to strengthen consumer protections in the wireless industry, including looking at allowing consumers to unlock their phones. Klobuchar has also pushed the FCC to examine the competitive impact on consumers from the wireless carriers\u2019 exclusive arrangements with cell phone manufacturers. Klobuchar also cosponsored legislation led by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that adds criminal penalties of up to five years in jail for tampering with cell phones in order to circumvent the service ban on a stolen phone.\r\nThe full text of the letter is below:\r\n\r\nDecember 30, 2013\r\n\r\nMr. Lowell McAdam\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr. Dan Hesse\r\nChairman and Chief Executive Officer\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chief Executive Officer\r\nVerizon Communications, Inc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sprint Communications, Inc.\r\n140 West Street\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0200 Sprint Parkway\r\nNew York, New York 10007\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Overland Park, Kansas 66351\r\n\u00a0\r\nMr. Randall Stephenson\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mr. John Legere\r\nChief Executive Officer \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 `\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 President and Chief Executive Officer\r\nAT&T, Inc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 T-Mobile USA, Inc.\r\n208 South Akard Street\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a012920 Southeast 38th Street\r\nDallas, Texas 75202\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bellevue, Washington 98006\r\n\u00a0\r\nMr. Kenneth Meyers\r\nPresident and Chief Executive Officer\r\nU.S. Cellular Corporation\r\n8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 700\r\nChicago, Illinois 60631\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Messrs. McAdam, Stephenson, Hesse, Legere, and Meyers:\r\nI am writing to express my concern regarding the increase in crimes involving the theft of mobile devices across the country.\u00a0 As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee, I understand that consumers are utilizing more mobile technology and this is spurring growth in our economy.\u00a0 Unfortunately, more and more consumers are also at risk of being targeted by criminals looking to steal cell phones and other devices for illegal resale.\u00a0 I appreciate the work the industry has done in creating a database to keep stolen phones from being reactivated, but more action is needed.\r\nAccording to the Federal Communications Commission, almost one-in-three robberies involve phone theft and the cost to consumers of lost or stolen phones is more than $30 billion each year.\u00a0 I\u2019ve heard from local law enforcement officials about the continued call for the wireless industry to engage with them further and to adopt \u201ckill switch\u201d technologies on devices.\u00a0 Additionally, state Attorneys General have suggested that wireless carriers have not taken adequate steps to fight cell phone theft.\u00a0\r\nAs Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, I expect wireless carriers to compete against one another to ensure consumers are offered the most advanced security features and offerings.\u00a0 Your five companies are the nation\u2019s leading wireless carriers, collectively serving more than 90 percent of the nation\u2019s wireless subscribers. With that market share comes an obligation to do all you can to utilize technologies available to protect consumers.\r\nWhile I understand your companies are continuing to work with law enforcement on the stolen cell phone database, it is clear that consumers want and deserve a comprehensive strategy to prevent mobile device thefts.\u00a0 That is why I respectfully request that each of your companies provides my Judiciary Subcommittee detailed information on the following issues by January 9, 2014:\r\n \r\nInformation explaining whether you have had offers by handset manufacturers to install \u201ckill switch\u201d technology, and, if so, why your company has or has not adopted such technology.\u00a0\r\nInformation about whether you have considered including this solution on handsets made by manufacturers now competing with Apple\u2019s activation lock technology that operates as a \u201ckill switch\u201d on iPhones.\u00a0 If not, please describe your reasoning behind the decision made by your company.\u00a0\r\nHow your company will include such technology options at no cost to consumers in the future and how your phone security offerings differ from your competitors.\u00a0\r\n \r\nIdentifying ways to curb mobile device theft is a top priority of mine and I will continue to advocate for the American wireless consumer. \u00a0I also believe additional action to protect wireless consumers is necessary and that's why I am asking you for this information. \u00a0The status quo is not acceptable.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=0fcf598a-e91b-42fb-9f5c-f2162f42e672"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6572469137609005, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}