FCC extends comment period on in-flight cellphone ban
By Peter Rojas 
posted April 28th 2005 12:08PM
posted April 28th 2005 12:08PM
If you're really not looking forward to getting stuck next to someone chattering away on their cellphone during your
next crosscountry flight, now's your chance to make your voice heard—the FCC has decided to extend the public comment
period on whether or not they should lift the current ban on in-flight cellphone usage until May 27th. Even if both FCC
and the FAA decide to lift the ban, it doesn't mean you'll automatically have to suffer (or force those around you to
suffer, as the case may be). It's actually up to each individual airline to decide whether or not they want to allow
cellphone use during flights, and plenty of people are proposing that flights have quiet and loud cabins.
[Via The Wireless Weblog]
The real problem with the current ban is that many hybrid devices are being caught in the crossfire. For instance, I have been told by many a flight attendant to turn off my SMT5600. Despite my gently informing said FAs that the device was, in fact, in "Flight Mode" and, as such, was completely without the ability to send or receive radio signals, I was told to turn it off. This left me without MP3 player, email to read, games to play, etc.
Whatever they do, they need to address this glaring issue.
AFAIC, if the FCC/FAA has deemed cellphones technically safe they need to recind the ban immediately, as their authority is specific.
As a frequent flyer I both want to be able to make calls and I also dont want to hear other peoples calls.
My ideal is that there were a business class-only airline (or sub-brand ala Ted, etc) which had laptop power, high-speed internet access, and cellphone usage for every seat, but also somehow partitioned seats and didnt allow children to fly.
The airline industry is so far behind in serving the needs of its business flyers.
I'm going to stick my head out here and say that the ban should be completely lifted. Let the industry and society work out the etiquette of when, where and how cellphones can be used in planes.
Ben, I don't think that you're sticking your head out too far there. I agree completely. Let the market decide. This isn't like smoking. It's not going to hurt you to have others jabbering away. The last thing that we need is more regulations.
re: Ben,
it's a great idea in theory, but after a decade of explosive cell phone growth, people haven't figured out cell phone etiquette on the ground. at least when some obnoxious person decides to have a yell-a-thon at local cafes, i have the option to leave.
if they do allow cell phones on flights, i think airlines should be required to offer non-cell phone passengers, noise canceling headphones :)
If only there was something useful you could with cel signals other
than chat. Actually I have a SMT5600 & I don't think people near me
would suffer if I synced my email over GSM.
Also, I'm a pretty liberal dude, but if regulating cel phone etiquette
is an appropriate task for the feds then there is nothing that isn't
the government's business & we should be ready to accept 10 or
100-fold growth in its size & intrusiveness.
And you thought that baby crying ten rows up was annoying...
I hope they keep the ban! Nothing like being locked in an airplane 40,000 feet in the air for hours on no end with people yelling into their cell phones right next to you and there's no way out! You own floating piece of HELL!! No thank you! It's bad enough having to try and drown out the annoying chatter of people talking around you, babies crying and the guy in the bathroom with bowel issues. The last thing I want is more noise pollution in a place I can't escape from!
KEEP THE BAN!
"And you thought that baby crying ten rows up was annoying..."
The baby crying ten rows up IS annoying, but it shouldn't be illegal.
Same principle applies with cell phones.
Please, please, please lift the ban for data signals, at the very least.
There's no reason I shouldn't be able to sync with my Exchange server while I'm on a flight.
Well, given that I somehow ALWAYS end up on a flight with a child that screams the entire flight (and I fly a lot), I will welcome the drowning sound of cell phone chatter. With enough people talking, I may not be able to hear the kid screaming.
Seriously though, children crying through an entire flight is common and way more annoying than cell phone use. If you want to keep the ban on cell phones, I'm 100% for banning children on non-emergency flights. And yes, I have children. And no, I have never taken them on a flight.
If you hate to listen to people chat on their phones, put some headphones on. Reading this site, it seems every person that reads here owns a DAP of some sort. A plane is the perfect place for those (and to stop the person next to you from gabbering the entire trip.)
Oh, and I have to say that I do not advocate banning children on flights. I put my headphones on and I don't have to listen to them.
I don't mind when someone sitting next to me is chatting away on their phone. I've learned to tune them out. As long as someone isn't talking away during a transoceanic flight when most passengers are trying to get some sleep.
They could lift the ban, but impose quiet hours, like most college dorms do.
Oh, come on... you're all telling me that you don't secretly enjoy listening in on other people's conversations? If anything, I think the cell phone user would be more uncomfortable than the people sitting around them.
IMO, passivity is one of the most pervasive psychological issues in our society. So, when I read comments like "let society figure it out", etc., well that's fine, except that a vast percentage of society will not tell us how they feel. This is a society that believes people who go to therapy are sick. Most people are not very self-aware. So, be careful what you wish for. Cell phone use on airplanes is patently offensive. Cell phone use while driving an automobile is dangerous. Cell phone use in a book store is rude. Let's call a spade a spade. I think intelligent legislation is important. Otherwise, we'd be living in chaos. Much of what government does is inherently good for society. It's very PC now to believe that all government regulations are "evil." What a bunch of crap that is. Questioning authority is healthy, but remember, we elected these officials. Let them do their jobs.
Phil,
When you start your own airline, you are free to decide what rules you want to put into place. Until then, stop using the government like it's your daddy, to force people to be "social" or "polite".
And yes, government is evil, since by definition a government is a legitimized, and recognized monopoly for the use of force. Whether that's a necessary evil, or not, is irrelevant. Period.
I say that I really have no say- its up to each individual airline to make and enforce policies for their private property. People who don't agree with their rules are not welcome to use their services, and on the other hand, airlines will make the best decisions possible to make their customers happy. It will work out, don't worry.
"And yes, government is evil."
Iceberg. That is depressingly adolescent. Exclamation point.
Please, please, please, do not lift the ban on cellphones on airplanes. I like to sleep, read, and relax during a flight. Having a person ANYWHERE I can hear them interferes with my rights while on the plane. People who use cellphones have proven over and over again they really don't care about the rights or safety of others. How can we believe they will choose to be considerate while on a plane? I hope the intruders (cellphone users) don't win the right to use cellphones during flights. Poor the rest of us if they do!