Lawmakers: Allowing In-Flight Phone Calls a Safety Threat Last fall the FAA lifted restrictions on in-flight electronics use during take offs and landing, and last January the FCC began rulemaking to lift the restrictions on in-flight phone calls. Wheeler and the FCC took a lot of heat for that move (and is still fielding mostly negative comments on the idea). FCC boss Tom Wheeler responded by arguing that since tests showed no technical interference, the FCC's authority as a technical regulator was over -- and it would be up to someone else to ban loud mouths at 30,000 feet. Since that time, Congress and other agencies have stepped in to earn political brownie points from a public annoyed by the idea of sitting next to a chatty Kathy in flight. Among them is the Department of Transportation, which is cooking up rules that would block in-flight phone calls. 77 Members of Congress this week also sent a letter to the DOT, DOJ, FCC and Homeland Security, making the case that allowing in-flight phone calls is a threat to passengers: quote: "The nature of an aircraft cabin would make it impossible for passengers to remove themselves from loud or unwanted conversations and disputes. Instead of focusing on required safety-related tasks, flight attendants may be forced to intervene in or mediate disputes between passengers on appropriate content and volume of voice calls, thus distracting their attention from other passengers and job responsibilities. Additionally, when noise and distraction levels rise because of talking passengers, the ability to hear important safety announcements, either from the cockpit or cabin, will be impaired and crucial information may be missed." Of course if the history of in-flight phone call pricing is any indication (remember Airfone?) it will be people in first class who'll be doing most of the talking. Of course if the history of in-flight phone call pricing is any indication (remember Airfone?) it will be people in first class who'll be doing most of the talking. Letter in-flight calls







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cramer

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join:2007-04-10

Raleigh, NC 2 recommendations cramer Premium Member Follow the money So, are they also going to ban the $3/min built into the plane phones as well? I didn't f'ing think so.