Laaaaadies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the Main Event! In corner one we have the 6 time champion "The FCC" and in corner two we have the underdog "The FAA." Fighters, bow to each other; I want a clean fight. Ready? Set? Fight!

Just over six months ago the FCC lifted its ban on wireless device usage while in flight. However, it was understood that the FAA would still have to reverse its ban as well. The decision has been made and the FAA will not reverse its ban, at least not entirely.

The wireless devices being discussed here range from cell phones and Blackberries to WiFi. Currently the only option for in-flight communication available from most airlines is over-priced satellite phones that aren't exactly the cream of the crop when it comes to clarity. Want to check your email? Too bad, you'll just have to wait until you land in London... in thirteen hours. Why are these devices banned? The FCC had originally implemented the ban because of the risk of interference between the devices and crucial on-board systems such as navigation and communications. Nobody wants to end up in the middle of the ocean just because your friend had to SMS you and tell you about how you missed Jenny kissing Tommy at the park earlier that day.

However, as these devices mature and proliferate two things have become obvious. The first being that the interference risks are either not as bad as once thought or the device manufacturers are finding new ways of reducing the risk. The second is that the demand for wireless is continuing to grow. Joe Schmoe wants the ability to wirelessly email his/her friends to tell them that he/she is floating 30,000 feet above the earth and is sitting next to a really annoying overweight woman in a funny puse shirt. However, even with those two items in mind, the FAA still doesn't feel it's safe to lift the ban on all devices. They will only lift bans on devices that are proven to not cause any negative effects to communications and navigation systems.

"If an air carrier is willing to take the time and incur the expense of testing and verifying that the cell phone usage presents no in-flight interference problems, our rules allow an air carrier to permit such devices," Nicholas Sabatini, associate administrator for aviation safety said.

Why this falls into the laps of individual corporations is beyond me. The FAA is tasked with keeping the public safe while flying, so why are they relying on the individual airlines to get involved? Does the FBI make civilians track down federal criminals and then make the arrest once the hard work is done? No, so the FAA's approach seems like a cop-out.

With that being said, the FAA has allowed certain equipment to be tested in production flights in a limited scope. United Airlines was given permission to install the Boeing Connexion WiFi system on their Boeing 757 aircraft. The purpose of the Connexion system is to give passengers in-flight internet access.

Sabatini warned that going through the testing cycle is rather challenging because of the constant changing cellphone technology and increasingly complex navigation systems (the FAA is moving everyone to satellite navigation.)

And of course we can't forget about the ever-present annoyance factor. Imagine all the endless "hey, I'M ON A PLANE" phone calls you'll have the pleasure of listening to every flight; absolute heaven for the likes of Dom Joly.