Apple’s commitment goes beyond mere words– it pledges to provide independent repair shops and consumers across the nation with the necessary parts, tools, and documentation for fixing iPhones and computers. This step could potentially set a precedent for other companies to adopt similar practices.
The Federal Trade Commission Chair, Lina Khan, pointed out that restrictive practices in various industries not only increase costs for consumers but also impede innovation, limit opportunities for independent repair shops, and contribute to unnecessary electronic waste.
Apple’s support for federal legislation and opening its products to independent repair shops marks a shift in its approach. Over the years, the company has increasingly emphasized the longevity and resale value of its devices while actively working to make repairs more accessible and spare parts readily available.
Brian Naumann, Apple’s vice president for service and operations, emphasized that Apple believes a national law should strike a balance between repairability and factors like product integrity, usability, and physical safety.
Lael Brainard, National Economic Council Director, applauded Apple’s decision and urged Congress to enact national legislation. Some states, including California, Colorado, New York, and Minnesota, have already passed their own right-to-repair laws, and 30 others have introduced similar legislation.
Brainard highlighted the potential for commitments from private companies like Apple to reduce costs for consumers and curb unnecessary waste in landfills. According to Brainard, allowing the repair of consumer electronics could save US consumers a whopping $49.6 billion annually and significantly cut down on the nearly 7 million tons of electronic waste generated in the country each year, all while boosting small independent repair shops.
Although Apple has been supplying spare parts to repair shops since 2019, the California bill also mandates the provision of diagnostic tools. Apple has indicated its intention to adopt the same approach nationally as it does in California.
