The US needs a common charger, Dems say

A group of Senate Democrats is calling on the US Commerce Department to follow Europe's lead and force all manufacturers to build devices that adhere to a universal charging standard.

The senators wrote a letter to the Commerce Secretary demanding that the department develop a strategy to require a charging port for all mobile devices.

The letter comes a week after European Union lawmakers reached a deal on new legislation that will force all phones and tablets to have ausb-c port by fall of 2024.

The EU has acted in the public interest by taking on powerful technology companies. The US should do the same thing.

In the letter, the senators argue that the use of proprietary chargers, like Apple's, creates unnecessary amounts of e-waste and imposes financial burdens on consumers.

While we shell out more money to tech companies for new ones, Americans pile our outdated chargers onto the garbage. Our planet is deeper into a climate crisis because of this waste. I want the Department of Commerce to look into solutions so that we can save money, sanity, and our planet.

The senators don't want the Commerce Department to codify the universal charging standard. The request to create a comprehensive strategy is more broad and leaves room for the department to create its own standard. Critics argued that the rule would stifle innovation and impede the advancement of faster charging standards.

Big Tech is allergic to regulation and is already pushing back on the EU's action. We have to continue to stand up to the industry to make sure their interests don't come at the expense of the environment and consumer wellbeing.