Your Hardware. Your Choice. Your Right to Repair.
Are you tired of being told to discard an otherwise functional phone or MacBook because a manufacturer refuses to provide schematics or locks replacement parts?
The October 2017 Coffee Meeting That Lit the Match
In October 2017, Mitch Kramer (Owner of FiXCO) invited Washington State Legislative Representative Jeff Morris for coffee in downtown Bellingham.
During their 45-minute conversation, Mitch demonstrated how big tech manufacturers were systematically locking independent repair shops out of diagnostic tools, restricting access to OEM schematics, and forcing consumers into predatory replacement cycles.
Rep. Morris recognized the urgency. Within a month, he drafted Washington State's first-ever Right to Repair bill and introduced it into committee in early 2018. It became the very first committee in the United States to pass a digital Right to Repair measure.
That Bellingham conversation lit the match in the tech industry’s own backyard.
Why Independent Repair Matters
- E-Waste Prevention: Extends device life by 3 to 7 years, keeping toxic batteries and metals out of landfills.
- Local Economic Power: Keeps dollars in Whatcom County instead of sending them to Silicon Valley conglomerate balance sheets.
- Affordable Access: Saves families and students hundreds of dollars on essential schooling and business tools.
What is "Parts Pairing" & Why Should You Care?
Tech monopolies have increasingly used cryptographic serial locks ("parts pairing") to block independent repair even when using 100% genuine replacement components.
Screens, batteries, and cameras are paired by digital serial numbers to the motherboard. If swapped without secret proprietary corporate software, features like True Tone, Battery Health, or auto-brightness are disabled by design.
Users are greeted with alarming system notifications claiming their device has an "Unknown Part" installed, intentionally scaring customers into thinking safe independent repairs are dangerous.
Restricting direct component sales to third-party providers so that local repair shops are forced into restrictive agreements that set repair prices and force intrusive customer data reporting.