Representative Mia Gregerson has introduced a new Right-to-Repair bill in Washington (state.) House Bill HB 1810) would require the big tech companies like Samsung, Apple, and Microsoft to make tools and tech specs available to anyone who wants to repair their own devices.
At a state hearing recently, Gregerson stated that the …
pandemic has made the need for this bill all the more clear because we’ve become so reliant on digital tools to stay connected. That’s especially true for students in remote school districts that don’t have the money or nearby expertise to conduct needlessly complex repairs. When a student’s laptop breaks down, Gregerson said, “they’re missing a day of learning.”
North Shore educator Sandy Hayes testified that schools are expected to be a significant beneficiary of right-to-repair legislation:
“It will take us close to ten years before we have the funds to replace a current device,” she told lawmakers. If manufacturers stop hiding basic tech documents, it would help schools “keep our costs down by allowing districts and students to do minor repairs.”
We encourage our friends in Washington to call their local representatives and support this legislation. NWIDA will also be reaching out to Representative Gregerson.
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