ALFRANKEN 
M INNESOTA 
The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
tlnitrd ~tatrs ~rnatr 
WASHINGTON, DC 2051 0- 2309 
January 21,2014 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
I am writing to call your attention to a serious and growing safety problem that is plaguing 
communities in Minnesota and across the nation: the theft of smartphones and other mobile 
devices. 
Mobile device theft is the fastest-growing street crime in America, accounting for one out of 
every three robberies, according to your agency's latest estimates. Law enforcement authorities 
have coined the term "Apple-picking" to describe the theft of iPhones and other Apple devices, 
but the problem is not limited to Apple products- and the term belies the increasingly violent 
character of these crimes. For example, last month a group of individuals brutally beat a man at 
the Mall of America in Minnesota, amid crowds of holiday shoppers, in an attempt to steal his 
smartphone. Such brazen attacks are becoming all too common, particularly in urban areas, on 
public transportation, and on college campuses. 
The FCC has taken important steps to help consumers combat smartphone theft. The 
PROTECTS Initiative, which then-Chairman Julius Genachowski launched in 2012 with the 
wireless industry and local law enforcement, was a promising start. One of this initiative's 
signature achievements was working with CTIA, the wireless industry trade group, to launch a 
database of stolen phones. Carriers check against the database before reactivating phones, 
refusing to activate phones registered as stolen. This "blacklist" database is an important tool in 
deterring theft because it helps undermine the market for stolen phones by decreasing the value 
of blacklisted devices. 
While I applaud the FCC's efforts to create this database, it must be improved. The black market 
for stolen phones is global, with devices often being shipped to foreign countries in bulk soon 
after they are stolen. To be truly effective, the database must include participation from both 
foreign governments and foreign carriers. The FCC recognized this necessity in November 
2012, when it reached a bilateral accord with Mexico to combat cross-border trafficking of stolen 
phones. Mexico's participation in the database has undoubtedly improved its effectiveness, but 
more must be done. 
Accordingly, I urge the FCC to expand the database 's global reach. Specifically, the FCC should 
(1) broker agreements similar to the 2012 Mexican accord with additional countries, and (2) 
establish cooperative relationships with international standard-setting organizations such as the 
GSM Association and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), through 
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formalized agreements where appropriate. These actions would strengthen the effectiveness of 
the database. 
In light of that fact, I respectfully request that you let me know what steps your agency has taken 
in pursuit of these goals, and what action you intend to take. 
There is no one silver-bullet solution to combating smartphone theft. Authorities are engaged in 
an arms race against smartphone thieves who quickly find ways to circumvent new anti-theft 
tactics. A multi-pronged approach is necessary, which is why I have also written CTIA about the 
use of"kill switch" technology, as well as writing the Department of Justice to ask the 
Department to step up its enforcement actions. Strengthening the stolen phone database is a vital 
part of this strategy. 
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to working with you and 
your staff to combat this serious threat to public safety. 
CC: Mindel De La Torre 
International Bureau Chief 
Sincerely~,---­
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Chairman, Subcommittee on Privacy, 
Technology, and the Law 
Federal Communications Commission