Those rooting for the right to repair in Colorado is facing a bit of a battle at the moment.
As reported by Wired, lawmakers in the state unanimously voted to move state bill SB26-090, otherwise known as Exempt Critical Infrastructure from Right to Repair, out of committee and into the state senate and house for a vote. The bill changes the existing Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act by exempting technologies used “in critical infrastructure.”
Manufacturers like Cisco and IBM backed SB-90 and cited cybersecurity concerns as a reason for exemption. They said the existing right-to-repair law could open the door for bad actors to use the methods to repair their devices with bad intentions.
“IBM supports right-to-repair policies that empower consumers while protecting cybersecurity, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure,” said a spokesperson in a statement sent to Wired.
“Given the critical and often sensitive nature of enterprise-level products, any legislation should be clearly scoped to consumer devices.”
Cisco did not provide a statement, but said during the hearing that it supported the measure.
“Cisco supports SB-90,” said a representative. “While it appreciates the arguments offered in favor of the right to repair, not all digital technology devices are equal.”
Advocates from organizations like Pirg, iFixit, and the Repair Association, as well as YouTube creator and repair advocate Louis Rossmann, were also present and opposed SB-90. The concern is generally around the language of the bill, which repair advocates say is purposely vague to shake those not familiar with the verbiage.
“The ‘information technology’ and ‘critical infrastructure’ thing is as cynical as you can possibly be about it,” said Pirg’s Nathan Proctor.
“It sounds scary to lawmakers, but it just means the internet.”
There is also concern about the verbiage not being clearly defined. “The definition of critical infrastructure is completely inadequate. The definition that has been proposed in this bill is not even a definition,” said Repair Association executive director Gay Gordon-Byrne.
The votes on the Colorado Senate and House floors could take place as early as this week.
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