LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York Congressional delegation to
enact a comparable universal cell phone charger interface plan similar
to the plan adopted by the European Union

WHEREAS, There were at least, by the end of 2010, an estimated 5.3
billion mobile cellular subscriptions worldwide, including 90% of U.S.
households that owned a cell phone as of May 2010; and including seven
million people in the U.S. who used a cell phone number almost exclu-
sively as their primary contact number; and
WHEREAS, Many cell phone chargers currently on the market and in use
by consumers are incompatible with most other available cellular models;
and
WHEREAS, When cellular consumers change or upgrade their cell phones,
they are usually unable to reuse or recycle their old cell phone's char-
ger and must either keep or throw away their old cell phone's charger,
the latter resulting in at least 50,000 tons of electronic waste
discarded each year in landfills; and
WHEREAS, Consumers worldwide spend over $63 billion a year on wireless
accessories, including extra chargers for use at home, at work, and in
the car; and
WHEREAS, The European Union has identified and addressed this problem,
as have many other cellular business and quasi-governmental organiza-
tions, such as the Cellular Technology Industry Association (CTIA), the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the Group Speciale
Mobile Association (GSMA); and
WHEREAS, However, the European Union has taken the initiative, through
their European Commission, to bring together cellular providers and
manufacturers and government to create and implement a plan for the
development and release of a universally-accepted charging interface;
and
WHEREAS, The European Union's progressive adoption of this universal
interface, also known as the micro-USB interface, in December 2010, and
its first model, unveiled February 2011, will be introduced to the Euro-
pean continent; and
WHEREAS, Consumer groups have welcomed the agreement; however, to be
effective, this initiative needs to be implemented internationally; if
done, cell phone users will benefit by not having to replace their char-
gers every time they purchase a new cell phone, and the environment will
benefit by eliminating the several thousand tons of waste each year
created by discarded cell phone chargers; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to enact a
comparable universal cell phone charger interface plan similar to the
plan adopted by the European Union; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.