Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said the agency should investigate Apple over its move to block the Beeper Mini app, which gave Android users access to iMessage.
Carr, a frequent critic of Apple and other Big Tech companies, expressed concern that the Cupertino, California-based company had violated the Federal Communications Commission’s Title 14 regulations. ”
The regulations require people with disabilities to have access to “enhanced communications services.”
“Beeper helped bridge the gap between the ‘blue and green bubbles’ that Apple maintains as part of its broader anti-competitive walled garden practices,” Kerr said on Monday. Told.
“While Apple’s extensive exclusionary conduct warrants scrutiny by antitrust and competition authorities, the FCC also examines this particular incident in light of the Part 14 rules regarding accessibility, usability, and compatibility.” “We need to do that,” the chief added.
Apple has long limited access to its encrypted iMessage service to its own devices, causing it to appear as a scary “green bubble” when Android users send text messages to iPhone users. Beeper Mini now allows Android users to temporarily work seamlessly with iMessage and access in-app features like emojis.
Apple changed iMessage settings in December to block Beeper Mini’s access. The company has argued that enabling third-party access poses user privacy and device security risks.
Kerr pointed to FCC rules that state that covered providers “may not install network features, features, or capabilities that impede accessibility or ease of use.”
Apple and the FCC did not respond to requests for comment.
If things go ahead, the FCC investigation will cause more headaches for Apple, which has come under increasing scrutiny over its business practices.
Late last year, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Apple had infringed a patent that tests blood oxygen levels, forcing it to stop selling some of its smartwatches. Apple is appealing this decision.
Carr is one of many policymakers who have expressed concern about Apple’s actions with Beeper Mini.
In December, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), U.S. House Representatives Jerry Nadler (D-New York), and Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colorado) A bipartisan group of four state legislators asked the question. The Justice Department called for an investigation into whether Apple violated antitrust laws by blocking his Beeper.
“We are also concerned that this type of tactic could chill future investment more broadly,” the lawmakers said.
Bloomberg reported last month that the Justice Department could file an antitrust lawsuit against Apple as early as March. Federal authorities reportedly plan to allege that Apple engages in anti-competitive conduct to ensure its continued dominance of the iPhone ecosystem.
