US lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow farmers to repair their equipment. The regulation will require manufacturers of agricultural equipment to make spare parts, as well as make operating instructions and programming codes publicly available. According to the idea of parliamentarians, this will allow farmers to repair their equipment on their own or contact the mechanics of their choice.
The author of the bill, Senator John Tester, said that problems with the repair of agricultural equipment are hurting businesses. He is confident that giving farmers the opportunity to control their own activities will make food chains safer. The tester reports complaints from farmers that company-sanctioned repairs are costly and can take days or weeks, negatively impacting planting, care and harvest.
The NBC reporter believes that the farm equipment bill could be the impetus for a broad movement for the right to repair. The public organization PIRG speaks about the fundamental right of consumers to control the devices they own, especially when it comes to troubleshooting. Representatives of the association say that over the past decades, manufacturers have made repairs almost impossible. Companies block software, limit the number of parts, and issue prohibitive warranties.
This policy applies to all technology from smartphones to newborn incubators. However, in 2012, Massachusetts law allowed cars to be repaired at any auto repair shop. Subsequently, this decision became national. Devices that are less repairable harm the environment and the well-being of consumers, representatives of public organizations explain.
Last summer, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing the United States Federal Trade Commission to develop rules that would remove restrictions on repairs. US PIRG head Kevin O'Reilly says there is now a real possibility for the right to make repairs to become law.
Last month, an American farmer sued farm equipment manufacturer John Deere. In his opinion, the company creates a monopoly on farmers by introducing proprietary software for its tractors. Previously, the businessman turned to a local dealer for repairs, but the latest problem with the equipment forced him to turn to John Deere. The troubleshooting took less than three minutes and cost the farmer $600.
In January, Biden formally endorsed the right to renovate. In the near future, the American regulator will prepare a list of rules and begin to take action against their violators.
bbabo.Net