POSTED BY Andrew Clark
Airline passengers may soon be able to make phone calls and receive text messages in air if the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopts a new proposal. The FCC is considering raising the ban on the use of cellular phones during flight. At the December 12, FCC meeting, they will address the current proposal. As many know cellular phone use is prohibited while in flight, unless the cell phone is in airplane mode, which prevents any cellular connectivity.
The proposal would allow airline passengers to make phone calls, receive emails and even send text messages while in the air. The FCC would allow cell use, once a plane has reached an altitude of 10,000 feet. The proposed change comes after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decided to allow use of mobile phones in airplane mode, tablets, e-readers, and other handheld electronic devices from “gate to gate.” Airlines such as, Jet Blue, Delta, US Airways and American Airlines have created new policies to allow the use of such electronic devices in compliance with FAA regulations.
A similar proposal for cell phone use has been previously discussed in 2004. However, flight attendants and others lobbied against the rule change resulting in the rule change being dropped three years later, in 2007.
This proposed change, presents more societal issue than it does a safety or technology issues. A recent CNET piece quoted FCC chairman Tom Wheeler saying “modern technologies can deliver mobile services in the air safely and reliably, and the time is right to review our outdated and restrictive rules.” An obvious problem that will occur is the increased disruption from passengers carrying on phone conversations. It seems apparent that passengers will not want to listen as someone talks on a phone for the entire duration of a flight. However, these problems can be combated by specific airline policies rather than preventing cell phone use in general. It seems reasonable for an airline to allow users to stay connected through cell phone use, but limit the ways in which passengers may use their phones. If the FCC allows cell phone use, the true test will be how airlines and passengers respond to the new freedom.
