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FCC Proposes Permitting In-Flight Voice/Data Cell Phone Use

No to voice usage, but I say why not allow data usage? Now, of course the cell phone providers will find a way to charge an arm and a leg for this, even though you are technically within the U.S.

So, cost may be what allows this to be allowed, but yet not really have much of an impact.
 
There are times I'd like to move to that little town on the East Coast where they don't permit cell phones and various electronics.

How peaceful that must be. Imagine actually leaving the house with just your wallet and keys (no cell phone and gadgets). Relaxing and enjoying the country scenery.

Oh, the "good old days" when we used to arrive home and simply check for calls on our landline answering machine.
 
Don't high altitude cell phones talk to way too many cell towers in direct line-of-sight and thus cause problems with call routing and billing? One rational for the FCC prohibition was not due to interference with the plane, but interference with too many cell towers across multiple state lines and even national boundaries on the ground.

What if Canada tries to bill you for roaming if you make a call in the North U.S.? etc.
 
Allow it, but make it $20/minute. If you really need it, it's there. But the loud idiot who just wants to tell everyone he's calling from the plane will think twice.
 
The biz jet side of the industry has been doing this for a while now. Simple technology but pricey. The airlines will find a way to profit from it. Most of them (at least those using GoGo) already have the hardware on their planes and only have to do a software update.

http://www.aircell.com/press-room/aircell-introduces-flight-calling-and-texting-personal-smartphones

and another with more info from AirCell (GoGo) http://www.aircell.com/gogotexttalk

I'm not particularly fond of the phone calls but continuous text ability would be ok.
 
As far as I'm concerned, airplane passengers should be forced to wear muzzles from the moment they sit down, and communicate their meal or beverage preferences with the flight attendants through morse code blinks or sign language. I have a job most people find interesting, and if I don't close my eyes and pretend to sleep or stick my head in a book as soon as I sit down I'll spend the entire flight answering inane questions about it.

That said, there's absolutely no reason why airplanes shouldn't be able to offer in-flight wifi, and people can use their phones to connect to it. Just make sure if you do this, that you turn off your cellular antenna or you'll drain the battery very quickly.

And, hopefully, airlines opt not to offer in-flight cellular, or if they do, it's prohibitively expensive. I'm sure there's going to be people using skype over data, though. But honestly, who even talks on the phone anymore? Just send a text, or an email.
 
One word - "NO!"

It's already far too annoying listening to all world's most important business people talking so loudly everybody hears the entire conversation.

This happens right up to the point of takeoff & the second the wheels screech as the plane touches down. Boo :mad:
 
Remember when the people on those 9/11 flights used cell phones to call relatives? Yeah...

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tymaster50 said:
Some of you guys come off as really anti social lol
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It's not anti-social. It's anti-being stuck in a metal tube for 5 hours listening to someone talk on their phone without being able to go anywhere.
 
Patriot24 said:
Please, no. Just...no.

I am all for allowing devices at all stages of flight, but I do not want to be one a plane full of people screaming into their phones.

May god have mercy on our souls.
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See, I understand that people don't want this, but it should NOT be the FCC, a federal organization, banning them. If "the feds" banned electronic devices on all modes of transportation, would that be okay? I mean, it bothers me when people yack away while on the bus too, but I don't want the FCC making it a criminal activity.

Let the airlines decide when and where they want to restrict these things. Maybe no cell phone use after a certain hour?

And lastly, heaven help us if we learn to actually respect each other and communicate our problems with those around us in a nice and polite way :rolleyes:
 
tymaster50 said:
Some of you guys come off as really anti social lol
Click to expand...

How is not wanting to hear some inconsiderate person go on and on, on a phone, annoying everyone around them being anti social? You must talk loud on the phone in public, and completely oblivious as to how it annoys most people.
 
jmcrutch said:
Do people still talk on their phones? Seriously? I bet I used less than 20 mins of talk time a month. But I send around 3000 SMS
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Those who have people that they love, but who live so far away. Talking on the phone and FaceTime is the next best thing.

Not on a plane though lol
 
Yes, we remember, B U T ...

akron0488 said:
Remember when the people on those 9/11 flights used cell phones to call relatives? Yeah...

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It's not anti-social. It's anti-being stuck in a metal tube for 5 hours listening to someone talk on their phone without being able to go anywhere.
Click to expand...

Yes, we DO remember, B U T, they were going into the ground & had a cell connection due to an extremely LOW altitude. It's not 911 everyday in the skies.
 
If they allow people to make phone calls on their cell phones during a flight they better prepare to have FBI waiting at the door of every single flight because there will be fights on the plane and people will get arrested. Give me a break!!!! Can you imagine if everyone inside a plane decides to make a phone call at the same time? The place will be worst than a trading floor.
 
oh my god!!!! thats the last thing i need. i fly a lot and thats the only time i get break from people talking.. Please don't allow this. last thing i need is lady next to me going "Jimmmmm, can you hear me ? Helloooo..." lol
 

* This is under "discussion" and is a long way from approval.

* The airlines could still not allow it, which I am guessing they will do.

Y'all can say all you want, but the general public and most airlines are not gonna allow in flight cell conversations.


 
I've always thought that one of the arguments against cell phone use on aircraft was that reliability would be low because handoffs from one tower to the next would occur much more frequently than on the ground.

The ability to make voice calls in the air has been around for a long time. I remember calling someone from an airplane back in the 80s. Of course, it was very expensive, so not many people did it. These days, pretty much everyone has a cell phone, so the volume (number and loudness) of calls would be much greater and more annoying.
 
Planes will now sound like a tele marking call center. Wait I know I sense Apple is behind this to get people to upgrade to 32gb iPads so they can have ample music and movies on hand so they dont have to listen to the chatter! :D
 
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