Today in Repair

In a letter sent Thursday [PDF], Senators Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) asked Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to look toward a strategy that would require universal charging standards in consumer tech. The senators didn't mention USB-C but cited the EU's upcoming legislation that will require smartphones, digital cameras, e-readers, headsets, laptops, and some other consumer tech products with wired charging to use USB-C.

The senators also didn't suggest that a law should be passed but, rather, some sort of inter-agency discussion. Similar to the EU's universal charging policy and the fight for the right to repair in the US, a common charging legislation in the US would likely face opposition from businesses and political groups who believe the government should be less involved. (It's also worth mentioning notable movements in this space, including New York state passing the first electronics right-to-repair bill.) (artstechnica.com)

🔖 Bonus Read: Another year and another story about USB-C for iPhone

Just about a year ago, I queried if 2021 could be the year of Right to Repair. For obvious reasons, the passage of legislation is perhaps the most significant development to report in 2022 — but what may be less obvious is the outsized impact these victories will have. Much like 2021, this year has seen numerous Right to Repair bills introduced across the nation, including 20 states with active bills. And much like 2021, most of these are likely to die before the year is out. 

Having seen the writing on the wall, many repair-resistant behemoths have shifted their public strategy on repair, offering repair parts for do-it-yourself consumers and repair shops. This is a significant change of the winds considering these tech titans have historically "not been willing to negotiate a compromise," as Kyle Weins, CEO of iFixit recalls. (greenbiz.com)

All drivers enable communication, but whether they're open or closed source makes a big difference. Hardware drivers exist to enable your computer's software to communicate with the hardware. Sometimes they come integrated with your computer's operating system. Other times you need to download and install the drivers yourself.

A computer component or external device may seem like a primarily physical product, but the software powering the device often makes one product more compelling than another. Many businesses view the code powering this software as their competitive advantage over other companies.

The question of open source vs closed source drivers largely impacts Linux users. On most computers, you don't have a choice. On Windows and macOS, your drivers are proprietary. On Chrome OS, whether your drivers are open or closed, that knowledge is largely unknown and irrelevant to your experience. But if you're using Linux, then this question matters. Unless you need the extra power that a proprietary driver can provide, such as for gaming, hardware with open source drivers often provides a better experience. And such drivers better align with the broader ethos and functionality that distinguishes Linux from other OSes. (makeuseof.com)

The Senate is considering a big vote on antitrust legislation that could change how these companies do business. CEOs of tech giants Amazon, Apple and Google are personally calling on members of Congress to urge them to oppose an antitrust bill that could change how these companies do business, according to multiple news reports. 

The high-level lobbying efforts come as the Senate is expected to vote in the next few weeks on the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, which would bar these companies and other platforms from favoring their own products and services over competitors. If passed and signed into law, this legislation would mark the most meaningful change to antitrust law in decades. It would force changes in how big tech companies do business and how their products operate, and it could even break up companies. (CNET)