Inflight Phone Calls Likely To Remain Banned, Though One Government Department Would Like To At Least Consider The Possibility
ByThe two bodies of government responsible for determining the feasibility of inflight phone calls are currently at separate sides of the issue for separate reasons, tech radar reported. Just as the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 for the chance to consider phone calls, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced its preference to keep them banned.
The debate is an extension of the US Federal Aviation Administration's statement from October, which gave airlines the right to allow passengers to use personal electronic devices through every stage of flight, tech radar reported. In-flight phone calls, according to the statement, remained forbidden.
Really, the FCC and the DOC agree on the risk posed by mile high phone conversations. But it's the DOT's job to protect the customer; the FCC is only in charge of deciding technical plausability. Based on that, it sees no reason why planes shouldn't at least be given the option to allow phone calls.
"I do not want the person in the seat next to me yapping at 35,000 feet any more than anyone else. But we are not the Federal Courtesy Commission," FCC Chair Tom Wheeler said.
The FCC claims the rules are old and the ban on inflight calls is an example of one of those "regulations that serve no purpose," according to Wheeler.
Still, opposition is strong. Most people aren't comfortable giving airlines the freedom to allow phone calls, even though many companies have already stated they would uphold the ban even if it was lifted at the federal level, according to the Wall Street Journal. Nearly every sector of the flight industry has contacted the DOT in opposition of inflight calls, according to tech radar. The consensus is that phone conversations would "anger fliers, disrupt flights and burden airline staff who might have to settle disagreements that erupt over passenger phone calls," according to the Wall Street Journal.
"[A]nd I am concerned about this possibility as well," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx told the Wall Street Journal.
If the two sides continue their opposing viewpoints, cell phone use will likely be allowed, but restricted to texting and searching the internet, according to tech radar.
A few companies, including JetBlue and United Continental, said they would consider allowing phone calls, the Wall Street Journal reported.