At Legal Insurrection, we covered a ridiculous law that makes it illegal to “unlock” your cellphone.

Via Instapundit:  College Republicans are fighting that rule, and as Istapundit says, the GOP leadership may want to take a hint from this action. 

The campus-based group is petitioning the Obama Administration to unchain their phones!

The Librarian of Congress decided in October 2012 that unlocking of cell phones would be removed from the exceptions to the DMCA.

As of January 26, consumers will no longer be able unlock their phones for use on a different network without carrier permission, even after their contract has expired.

Consumers will be forced to pay exorbitant roaming fees to make calls while traveling abroad. It reduces consumer choice, and decreases the resale value of devices that consumers have paid for in full.

The Librarian noted that carriers are offering more unlocked phones at present, but the great majority of phones sold are still locked.

We ask that the White House ask the Librarian of Congress to rescind this decision, and failing that, champion a bill that makes unlocking permanently legal.

It looks as if it is going to be a successful drive: They only need about 14,000 more signatures to reach their goal of 100,000 by Feb. 23.