U.S. PIRG, MITA offer different views on how measure could impact HTM professionals
President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order “Promoting Competition in the American Economy.” The executive order addresses some right-to-repair concerns.
“The heart of American capitalism is a simple idea: open and fair competition – that means that if your companies want to win your business, they have to go out and they have to up their game; better prices and services; new ideas and products,” Biden said. “That competition keeps the economy moving and keeps it growing. Fair competition is why capitalism has been the world’s greatest force for prosperity and growth.”
A fact sheet helps outline the 72 different initiatives included in the executive order.
The fact sheet also states that, “Biden is taking decisive action to reduce the trend of corporate consolidation, increase competition, and deliver concrete benefits to America’s consumers, workers, farmers and small businesses. Today’s historic executive order established a whole-of-government effort to promote competition in the American economy. The order includes 72 initiatives by more than a dozen federal agencies to promptly tackle some of the most pressing competition problems across our economy. Once implemented, these initiatives will result in concrete improvements to people’s lives.”
One bullet point item in the fact sheet says the executive order will, “Make it easier and cheaper to repair items you own by limiting manufacturers from barring self-repairs or third-party repairs of their products.”
However, this item does not appear under the “Healthcare” heading within the fact sheet.
The proposed order tackles four areas where lack of competition in health care increases prices and reduces access to quality care. The areas mentioned are prescription drugs, hearing aids, hospital consolidation and health insurance.
Under the “Agriculture” heading one bullet point states that the executive order, “Encourages the FTC to limit powerful equipment manufacturers from restricting people’s ability to use independent repair shops or do DIY repairs – such as when tractor companies block farmers from repairing their own tractors.”
Under the “Technology” portion of the fact sheet a section reads, “Cell phone manufacturers and others blocking out independent repair shops: Tech and other companies impose restrictions on self and third-party repairs, making repairs more costly and time-consuming, such as by restricting the distribution of parts, diagnostics and repair tools.
In the order, the president:
Encourages the FTC to issue rules against anticompetitive restrictions on using independent repair shops or doing DIY repairs of your own devices and equipment.”
U.S. PIRG Senior Right to Repair Campaign Director Nathan Proctor applauded the executive order.
“This is a big day for the right to fix our stuff,” said Proctor. “More repair choices will protect the environment by cutting down on the amount of new electronics we make and old stuff we toss. More choices help save money and cut down-time waiting for the manufacturer’s technician, which is especially important for farmers on tight planting or harvesting schedules. This is a win.”
The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) – a trade association representing the manufacturers of medical imaging equipment, radiopharmaceuticals, contrast media, and focused ultrasound therapeutic devices – issued a statement regarding the directives in the executive order that address third-party repair or self-repair of goods.
“The Biden administration’s executive order addressing right-to-repair issues underscores the categorial differences between FDA-regulated medical devices used to diagnose disease, sustain life, and guide complex health care interventions and consumer electronics or farm equipment,” said Patrick Hope, executive director, MITA.
“Maintaining and repairing sophisticated medical device equipment raises both patient safety and cybersecurity concerns,” Hope continued. “The FDA laid out its roadmap to address medical device servicing and repair in its 2018 report. Moreover, the agency has begun executing it through the issuance of remanufacturing guidance and their cybersecurity discussion paper. We look forward to continuing our collaborative work with the FDA and Congress to resolve these issues, which are central to patient safety and device effectiveness.”
U.S. PIRG states that in addition to the Biden administration’s clear support for right to repair campaign efforts, the creation of a “White House Competition Council” will be vital to address repair restrictions across different industries. From the Food and Drug Administration’s role in addressing repair restrictions for medical devices – which undermined COVID-19 response – to the Department of Defense struggling to repair military equipment, a clear directive across agencies could make a large-scale impact.
“For decades, manufacturers have increasingly been locking out repairs in just about every kind of product. That’s why a competition council, with a clear pro-repair position, could be critical to our efforts to end repair restrictions in everything from toasters to tractors to ventilators and more,” said Proctor. “That’s good for every American – farmers, hospital administrators, you and me – who buys expensive products that are difficult to fix. And to top that off, it’s good for the environment.”
State lawmakers across the country have advanced the right to repair debate. Twenty-seven states had repair legislation active in 2021, up from the four states that first attempted to enact Right to Repair reforms in 2015. Led by the PIRGs, iFixit, and Repair.org, coalitions of independent fixers, environmental advocates, farmers and other advocates have urged their states to reduce manufacturer-imposed barriers. Their advocacy led to the New York State Senate becoming the first state chamber to pass a right to repair bill encompassing consumer technology and agricultural equipment.
“We’ve gone from zero to 27 states in six years because protecting repair is the right thing to do, and people get it,” said Gay Gordon-Byrne, the executive director of Repair.org, a coalition group which organizes state campaigns on right to repair. “This order adds energy to all our efforts. We plan to keep going until people can fix their stuff.”
