November 17, 2014
What We’re Reading: Cell Phone Calls On Airplanes
Federal agencies are flirting with the idea of lifting a ban on cell phone calls while in flight.
We discussed the debate over phone calls on planes and explored the future of in-air connectivity on Tech Tuesday this week.
USA Today: DOT consumer panel hears clash about calls on planes
Opposition to the prospect of dropping a ban on in-flight phone calls is fierce among consumers, evidenced by hundreds of comments logged by the Transportation Department and Federal Communications Commission. Robert Gorman, an attorney in the department’s office of aviation enforcement, said 98 percent of all comments are negative.
“The typical comment was: ‘can you imagine being on a plane for hours on end with some joker next to you talking about their boyfriend or the bad cup of coffee they had at Starbucks?'” Gorman said. “‘This is intolerable,’ was the typical individual comment.”
Julie Frederick, a representative of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (and a panelist on our show), said her group opposes in-flight mobile cell phone usage for several reasons: safety, security and customer comfort.
“As flight attendants, we have no interest in becoming the cell phone police on our airplanes,” Frederick said.
FAQ on Proposals to Expand Consumer Access to Inflight Mobile Services
The FCC answers questions about the proposal to let airline passengers use mobile devices in the air. The agency notes that, if adopted, airline carriers would be responsible for developing an in-flight phone usage policy — including whether to let passengers use cell phones at all.
“The proposed rules would make clear that there is no right to operate cellphones on planes as a default,” the guide states.