Democratic Senators Push for Common Charging Method for Mobile Devices
Three Democratic US senators are calling on the White House to follow the EU’s example and push the tech industry to adopt a single charging method for mobile devices.
On Thursday, Sens. Ed Markey (D-Ma.), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-Ma.) sent a letter(Opens in a new window) to US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, urging her to develop a plan that addresses the lack of a universal charging method for today’s products.
“We write regarding the economic and environmental harm inflicted by the consumer electronics industry’s failure to establish uniform charging accessory standards—a shortcoming that requires consumers to frequently change their charging accessories,” the senators wrote.
The letter says the US should look to the EU’s recent agreement to require electronics vendors to adopt USB-C as a common charging method for smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and cameras by fall 2024.
“We urge you to follow the EU’s lead by developing a comprehensive strategy to address unnecessary consumer costs, mitigate e-waste, and restore sanity and certainty to the process of purchasing new electronics,” the senators added.
The senators themselves didn’t mention the USB-C charging method. Instead, their main complaint focuses on proprietary “specialized charging equipment and accessories” for new electronic devices.
“This is not merely an annoyance; it can be a financial burden,” the senators wrote, adding: “Innovation should benefit consumers. It should not come at their expense, saddle them with incompatible accessories, and compel them to purchase different charging equipment for each device they own.”
Although not named in the letter, it’s clear enforcing a common charging method would affect Apple, which has
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