FCC to review cellphone ban in planes
By Susan Mernit 
posted December 10th 2004 12:13PM
posted December 10th 2004 12:13PM
News that the FCC is going to review the ban on cellphone usage
on commercial planes means we're going to have to start thinking about how to escape the jammering masses crammed into
those little brocade seats. Even though Qualcomm and other companies are coming up with next-generation tools, like a
pizza-box sized cell tower mounted inside the plane, beaming signals to a miniature satellite dish on top of the jet,
they're gonna have to solve the listening-to-idiots-talk-to-their-girlfriend noise factor before we really
sign on.
As in the days when smoking was still allowed... we need to have "Cell Free" and "Cell only Seating" before this gets outta hand.
C'mon now, this is great news that will clearly drive innovation -- now, instead of "just" ambient-noise reduction headphones, we can expect to see yammer, giggle and drone reduction tech. Just think of it! ;)
I don't see the big deal about people talking on their cell phones as long as they speak in a normal speaking voice. It's as if they were talking to someone right next to them; no difference. If you start having a cell phone and a No-cell phone sections then you might as well have a speaking and a no-speaking section.
However, if people start yelling when using their phones, then that's a problem. But it shouldn't be much of one. Just have the balls to approach them and ask them to lower their voices instead of complaining about it. Most people would apologize as I'm sure they probably aren't aware of their raised voices. But as fair as planes are concerned, unless you're right next to the person, you probably wouldn't be able to hear the person over the plane's engines.
Why ask someone on an airplane to lower their voice while speaking on a cell phone? Shoudn't they have common sense and courtesy to realize this on their own? I think that being able to use your cell phone on an airplane - when you really need to - is a great idea; however, there will be those who will abuse the privelage and ruin it for the rest of us.
If the person next to me starts to talk on their cell phone during a flight, i will hold my breath until I pass out. That'll certainly make them think.....
Coffee? Tea? Cone of Silence? That'll be five dollars.
"I don't see the big deal about people talking on their cell phones as long as they speak in a normal speaking voice"
too many people already speak too loudly on their cell phones. i can only dread what it will be like when these same people have to compete with engine noise.
on a separate note, a friend of mine commented years ago that cell phones were the new cigarettes. people use them because they look cool, they think they're important and they have potential to cause cancer and people get addicted to them. watching people on planes helps confirm this... the second the tires touch the tarmac, out come the phones. poor smokers have to wait another 15 minutes of taxiing and baggage claim before they get their fix.
We need someone to invent that Cone of Silence thing they used to have on Get-Smart (if anyone is as old as me).
A big old cone drops down over your head and no-one can hear ya. Awesome :)
I too hate cell phone chatter. For some reason a person talking on a cellphone in a restaurant is more annoying than talking to someone present, even at the same voice level.
Which services will this work with? And once WiFi becomes common in the air, will airlines somehow try to stop people from using iChat AV and Skype, so that you'll be forced to make calls through their revenue-generating service?
We just need to support this organization and print out a few more of these:
http://www.coudal.com/Shhh.pdf
As far as the permited usage of cell phones within the confines of a plane. I think its time has come. I travel about 10k or 15k miles a month as a visiting Doctor seeing patients in various cities for their Hearing Assesments, I get calls, appointments,from around the globe and it would be a valuable asset to have that ability. I also maintain a ATT/Cingular PC card for my laptop to stay in touch with my children via email. Its a blessing for sure for me.
Respectfully, maybe a charge of 100.00 a month for usage via the planes might curtail unnecessary usage.