The Digital Fair Repair Act requires original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to make diagnostic and repair information for digital electronic parts and equipment available to independent repair providers and consumers if such parts and repair information are also available to OEM authorized repair providers.
"As technology and smart devices become increasingly essential to our daily lives, consumers should be able to easily fix the devices they rely on in a timely fashion," Hochul said. "This legislation will empower consumers with better options to repair their devices, thereby maximizing the lifespan of their devices, saving money and reducing electronic waste."
This legislation will make New York the first state in the nation to require such information from OEMs. Often, repairs of digital items are difficult to accomplish due to limited accessibility to parts and tools as well as a lack of manuals and diagrams. By signing the bill into law, the intended goal is to protect consumers and to open the digital repair market up to competition.
"This new Right to Repair law, the first of its kind in the United States, will not only provide greater choice and affordability for consumers if they choose to repair their electronic devices, but also significantly reduce the amount of electronic waste, while providing more opportunities for small businesses," said State Sen. Neil Breslin. "I want to thank Gov. Hochul along with Assemblymember [ Patricia] Fahy for their steadfast commitment to seeing this important new law come to fruition."
(c)2022 Staten Island Advance, N.Y. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
