In June, U.S. Congressman Joseph Morelle introduced “The Fair Repair Act” to Congress. This legislation is similar to bills introduced in more than 20 states, although as of yet none have been enacted. The basic goal of these bills is to make it easier for consumers to repair their possessions instead of having to buy new ones. 


In July, President Biden furthered this cause by signing an executive order meant to promote competition within the American economy. Although both these items focus on increasing competition and reducing corporations’ abilities to limit competition and protect their majority stakes in a number of industries, the electronics industry is one of the most important it will affect.


Apple and other large tech companies have long required that users go to specifically “licensed” repair shops for repairs unless their users wanted to lose their warranties. However, using these repair shops often cost users far more—in many instances, the cost of repair was more than the cost of replacing the laptop or smartphone. This was true for everything from spilling liquid on a gadget to replacing an LCD screen. The cost of repair and the loss of the warranty were meant to encourage users to simply upgrade to a newer option instead.


Although the Fair Repair Act has not yet been enacted, it is part of a move at the federal level to limit large corporations’ abilities to control the market without fair competition. This has become especially important as more corporations consolidate; according to the Biden Administration, a small number of companies control a large part of the business stakes in more than 75 percent of U.S. industries.


This, in turn, drives up prices for consumers and makes it harder for the healthy competition that naturally helps to keep prices low. It also affects wages for workers, and their ability to find work in related fields if they’re forced to sign a non-compete clause as part of getting a job. The number of new businesses formed since the 1970s has fallen nearly 50 percent, as small businesses find the cost of competing against mega corporations too expensive to take on. Overall, the lack of competition is estimated to cost the average American $5000 a year.


Thanks to Biden’s executive order and the growing discussion about competition and fair practices, it’s become easier not just to repair electronics, but to offer those repair options as well. This includes one of the simplest repairs to smartphones that are also the most in demand: replacing LCD screens that have cracked due to everyday wear and tear. 


To learn more about the availability of our LCD screens for iPhones, available in bulk to our partners, contact Issoy, Inc. today.