The FAA OK's cell phones in flight, the Senate tries to make it illegal

[thewayne]

While I appreciate the ability to use electronics on a plane, aircrafts are hyper-noisy environments as is, the thought of someone behind me talking endlessly on their phone really has no appeal. Usually I'm wearing a pair of Bose noise-cancelling headphones and I just sleep or play sudoku or do crosswords on my Nintendo DS Lite.

...two U.S. Senators, Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), have proposed legislation to ban cell phone calls while aboard an airplane. This follows a recent announcement from the FAA increasing the range of electronic gadgets travelers can use while flying, and a vote by the FCC to consider allowing phone calls during flight. However, even as those government agencies work to lift regulations on in-flight technology, the Department of Transportation is pondering a in-flight call ban of its own, saying it might not be "fair" to consumers to have to listen to other passengers talk on the phone throughout a long flight. FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said, "If we move beyond what we do here today and actually update our rules to allow voice calls on planes we can see a future where our quiet time is monetized and seating in the silent section comes at a premium."

I appreciate that it is a bill of bipartisan origin, but the FAA ruling opened a can of worms and if the bill makes it out of committee, I have great faith that the teabaggers are going to start talking about the "gubmint stomping on our rights!". The problem is that people are much less reasonable in their public behavior these days, especially with phones, and if unfettered phone use happens on planes I expect to see an increase in air rage incidents.

http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/13/12/13/1641231/senators-propose-bill-prohibiting-phone-calls-on-planes

Comments

[moiraj.livejournal.com]

I rarely use my cell and never around other people, so I have to ask: Is it really necessary to shout into the phone like that? Because that's half the issue, how loudly people speak.

Flying is stressful enough without having to listen to that racket, and everyone will get ticked off, and the flight attendants will end up with even more difficult jobs.

And aren't people's rights kind of suspended when it comes to anything involving planes?

[silveradept]

I can definitely see that air rage uptick, considering air flight already removes the idea of personal space when sitting in coach. I'm sure the airlines will figure out rules if the government relaxes theirs.