The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted today to consider a rule change that would allow cellular phone calls during airplane flights. But the possibility of allowing in-flight phone service might be ruled out even before the FCC can take final action.

US Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said his department will consider banning in-flight calls.

"Over the past few weeks, we have heard of concerns raised by airlines, travelers, flight attendants, members of Congress, and others who are all troubled over the idea of passengers talking on cellphones in flight—and I am concerned about this possibility as well," Foxx said, according to Reuters. "As the FCC has said before, their sole role on this issue is to examine the technical feasibility of the use of mobile devices in flight… DOT will now begin a process that will look at the possibility of banning these in-flight calls."

Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) also sponsored legislation called the Commercial Flight Courtesy Act to ban in-flight phone calls.

The uproar began last month when new FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler proposed lifting the FCC's restrictions on in-flight calls, since the technical barriers to allowing them have been overcome. In-flight calls are already allowed in other countries.

Some research has shown that overhearing one side of a conversation is more distracting than overhearing two people talk. Wheeler himself has said he would find it annoying to overhear a cell phone conversation on a plane. But the FCC proposal would "remove outdated rules," without requiring airlines to permit in-flight calling, he said.

The FCC prohibited in-flight phone calls in 1991 because of "concerns about harmful interference to wireless networks on the ground," the FCC said in an announcement. "In the past two decades, technology and engineering has evolved, and specialized onboard systems that can effectively prevent interference with wireless networks on the ground have been designed and successfully deployed internationally."

One unanswered question discussed at the FCC's meeting is whether wireless carriers are allowed to operate on their assigned frequencies at 10,000 feet in the air. The proposal would allow in-flight calls at 10,000 feet and above.

The FCC voted 3-2 in favor of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will kick off a public comment period. After receiving comments, the FCC would review a proposal to allow in-flight calls. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn joined Wheeler in voting in favor of the notice. Commissioners Ajit Pai and Michael O'Rielly voted against.

The FCC says it doesn't object to the Department of Transportation potentially banning in-flight calls.

"The FCC’s sole role is to examine the technical feasibility of the use of mobile devices in flight. As the Commission researches and takes public comments on the technical aspects of this issue, the US Department of Transportation, as part of their Aviation Consumer Protection Authority, will determine solely if allowing voice calls is fair to consumers," the FCC wrote in a Q&A post. "USDOT will begin a public process to consider the possibility of banning in-flight calls through notice and comment rulemaking."