It’s time for right to repair advocates to break out the champagne. The state of New York has become the first US state to pass a bill requiring companies to let customers repair their own products. The bill still has to be signed into law by the state’s governor, Kathy Hochul. She’s expected to sign it in the coming months.
The law as written would require companies that make electronic devices to provide repair and diagnostic information available. Additionally, companies would have to provide that information to both customers and also independent repair shops. Previously this information was only provided to “certified” repair stores and technicians, if at all. The bill notably does not apply to other industries such as farming, home appliances, and medical devices. The bill enjoyed broad support in both houses of the New York government according to iFixit. It passed the Senate 49 to 14 on Wednesday and then sailed through the Assembly 145 to 1 on Friday.
Phone repair used to be reserved for people who were equal parts brave and tech savvy, but legislation like this should encourage more people to take up a spudger. (Image: iFixit)
The bill is called the Digital Fair Repair Act. It requires OEMs in New York to provide “documentation, parts, and tools” to any independent repair provider or owner of “digital electronic equipment.” The bill defines this gear as any item with “digital electronics embedded in or attached to the product.” It also has to be worth $10 or more. The documentation aspect of the bill mandates that anything that could be used for “diagnosis, maintenance, or repair” has to be provided free of charge, unless the information is requested in written form. Parts must also be provided to repair shops and owners at prices “equivalent to the most favorable” deals it would give to its authorized repair centers.
The new bill is a boon to local, independent repair shops. According to iFixit’s post, in a recent survey of California repair shops 59 percent of them said they might have to close without similar legislation. In New York it will all repair shops on a level playing field too, so now authorized repair centers will have to compete for folks’ business. Once the bill is signed into law it’s expected to become “active” in 2023, as companies will need time to get their programs up and running.
The news comes as the right to repair movement is picking up steam, at least for tech devices. Apple recently rolled out its own self-repair program, though it doesn’t include all of the company’s devices. Google and Samsung have also announced similar initiatives, both with iFixit. Unlike Apple’s program, which is running now, Samsung and Google’s programs will be rolling out later this year. Microsoft is also partnering with iFixit to allow for repairs of its Surface PCs.
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