FCC Takes Steps to Approve Cell Phones in Flight as Transportation Department Considers Banning Calls on Planes

[jmgregory1]

I think the whole conversation about cell phone use on planes is misdirected at best. We are not talking about cell phones working just like they do on the ground where anyone can simply pick up the phone and use it. If that were the case, then it would be crazy with everyone trying to go about their lives using their phones.

But this just isn't the case. This is no different than wifi in the air. You will have to pay for the service, which will not be cheap. In Europe and Asia, where this service has been around long enough to generate stats, the actual number of calls per flight is minimal, 5-6, and the duration is less than 2 minutes per call.

Even if 50 people on a flight wanted to call someone at the same time, it's currently a technologically impossible thing. The number I heard was less than 10 simultaneous calls.

Consumers here need to do a better job of educating themselves on all sorts of topics, including this one.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Even if 50 people on a flight wanted to call someone at the same time, it's currently a technologically impossible thing. The number I heard was less than 10 simultaneous calls.

Yes, but on an average domestic flight that's about 8% of the entire plane, or just about every other row w/ someone on the phone. Not an insignificant number.

You are correct there would be an added cost for in-air calls, but the cost would have to be low enough to generate enough volume to make it worthwhile for an airline to have the equipment on their planes. Every extra lb costs them $. Every inch of space taken up for something eliminates a more profitable something being stored there. That means making it more affordable than the old GTE air phones. All it takes in one or two jabber jaws to make it unpleasant for everyone else. Why even introduce that into the already unpleasantness of flying?

 

[rotax]

As much as people want to think this is about voice, for the Cell Phone carriers, it is not. They want to compete with Wifi in flight. It more about the data, and the fee you will pay for this service when you use it, just like wifi. It will not be free as a part of your plan.

Voice restrictions will be consistent based on what the public wants for both wifi and cell based services.

----------

... the cost would have to be low enough to generate enough volume to make it worthwhile for an airline to have the equipment on their planes. Every extra lb costs them $. Every inch of space taken up for something eliminates a more profitable something being stored there.

The service will not require equipment onboard for the most part. The only case of that would be if the flight is not in range of cell phone towers that provide that service. i.e. over the water etc. For those flights they may choose to equip with something similar to the wifi service that uses satalite service for ip based communications to enable a micro cell on the plane.

 

[CalWizrd]

I'm one of those guys who flies frequently (well over a million miles)...

Wow, that's pretty impressive.

At 6,737 miles from NY to Tokyo (just figuring a long flight), that's over 148 trips, or 74 round trips, or better than one round trip per week. NY to Sydney would be over 100 flights, or just about one round trip per week.

It's amazing that you have the chance to post on MacRumors.

 

[mrjr101]

Question for everyone defending this so called ban: Are you also in favor of the FCC or any other government entity banning voice calls in movie theaters?
[note: it is not unlawful to make a voice call in a movie theater in the U.S., the theater establishments goes above and beyond in telling you how disrespectful and annoying it is to others when using a cellphone in the middle of the movie] If you are not in favor of the government ban in theaters but are happy how the theater companies manages this, please state how the approach would be any different to airlines. Thanks.

 

[Roller]

Exposing them to the thin, polluted excuse for 'air' you get on a flight comes pretty close.

…and if you've ever flown with a cold you'll know the sensation of having (seemingly) gallons of snot pumped at high pressure into your brain, and wondering whether you're ever going to hear properly again. Now imagine you're a baby of the permanently snotty variety, don't understand what's happening and don't even know how to clear your ears.

The purgatory of a long flight shouldn't be imposed on a non-consenting adult. Hint: one of the reason screaming kids are annoying is that it is not pleasant listening to someone in distress. Heck, on a long flight, I sometimes feel like joining in.

Flights are rarely enjoyable for kids, especially babies who can't deal with the pressure changes. But flying is often the only way for them to visit grandparents and other family members, who may not be able to travel.

As for cell phone use on planes, it's interesting to consider why people don't seem to complain about conversations between passengers. I guess that's because those tend to be at a lower volume than phone calls, partly because callers tend to talk more loudly than they need to to overcome cabin noise.

Personally, I'm happy just being able to send and receive text messages and email when I'm flying, which I sometimes do by purchasing Wi-Fi. That's certainly sufficient to let someone know about changing arrangements and the like.

 

[Bare]

I'm very happy with calls being banned on flights, not because the plane might crash, I just don't want to be next to someone for hours listening to them on the phone.

They're called headphones.

http://bit.ly/IhKffn

 

[Roller]

It's amazing that you have the chance to post on MacRumors.

Maybe he's posting from an airplane.

 

[susanne45]

I thought certainly not about that it is not possible to have its own freedom to choose, I have for a long time even love Samsung, but as in the tv recently the product is built to fail after about 2 years, it is not in order. I love good products but they must have lived up to stringent requirements such as for example this håndsæbe it is produced from a wide human sight

 

[Tech198]

Its not up to the FCC....

They may want it, but they can't force anyone to implement it.. its up to the airline... and/or others down the line... in this case the transportation department. If they reckon its unsafe, stuff up their equipment, then that's up to them.....

Don't fly with them, if you need this sort of access... Its as simple as that.

In regards to the above posts, ya they are called headphone, and not allot of people may take the consideration either...... That's a fair point.

 

[unrealpatch]

That's fine if you are okay, but I'm not.

I am OK with this.

I'm tried of people telling me what I can do. Is there a safety reason why you can't make a phone call? NO! There used to be phones on planes. I've seen a number of comments stating they want it quiet, so it seems to me that there wouldn't be that many people calling anyway. Bottom line, freedom. If you don't want me talking, buy all the seats around you. Otherwise, cotton.
lol

 

[zhenya]

You're a holiday traveller

I get it. You may miss a lot of etiquette

Look crying babies are part of traveling. I've heard enough.

It doesn't mean I have to enjoy it do I?

You guys need to lighten up and stop attacking me because it's how EVERYONE feels.

I travel a lot more than you, and if something as innocuous as a crying baby can drive you crazy, that's because YOU have not prepared yourself with a way to block out the inevitable noises that will occur around you. That's on YOU not THEM.

And no, the ONLY people who feel that way are the selfish and entitled folks like you that actually think the entire world should revolve around them. Gross.

 

[dBeats]

I fly on average of 20+ flights a year and please no talking!

We business travelers want it quiet

And shut your baby up.

You're a terrible parent by letting it cry

I agree on most points. No sure if you're a parent or not, but you can't just simply stop a baby from crying like it's a electronic device. It doesn't work that way. Now whether you should be taking a 6 month old on a long flight, that's an entirely different story...

 

[velocityg4]

Because unless you charter your own private aircraft, it is everybody's business as to whether you should be permitted to make calls in-flight.

The aircraft you are flying on is owned by a private entity. You are flying on a private aircraft. So that would make it the airlines decision. Unlike the city bus or metro lines the government does not own the aircraft you are flying on.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

The service will not require equipment onboard for the most part. The only case of that would be if the flight is not in range of cell phone towers that provide that service. i.e. over the water etc. For those flights they may choose to equip with something similar to the wifi service that uses satalite service for ip based communications to enable a micro cell on the plane.

Yes, but routes don't have dedicated planes. Airlines know well in advance the type of plane that will service a route, but not the specific plane so the cell equipment would have to be put on all planes for consistent availability on every flight. Also most plane routes routinely fly over "no mans" land where there is also weak or no cell service, again necessitating the need for additional equipment on all planes in the fleet.

 

[Fanboy4ever]

Noise, Noise, and More Noise

Great! Those with the Kardashian view of a warp reality and lots of 'spending' cash to waste will just have to take out that phone and let everyone know how rich and beautiful they are .... blah, blah, blah ... suffer the innocent .. such is it always the case ... as for crying babies, let them cry ... their crying most times makes more sense than the idle chit-chat you get from your neighboring passenger ...

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Great! Those with the Kardashian view of a warp reality and lots of 'spending' cash to waste will just have to take out that phone and let everyone know how rich and beautiful they are .... blah, blah, blah ... suffer the innocent .. such is it always the case ... as for crying babies, let them cry ... their crying most times makes more sense than the idle chit-chat you get from your neighboring passenger ...

No. Those types don't fly commercial. They have or have access to a private jet. Honestly, people w/o loads of cash can be every bit as annoying as media caricatures like the Kardashians. Let's not discriminate here.

 

[meaning-matters]

All those radio's

I don't like the idea of being in a metal can with many hundreds of mobile (3G, 4G, GSM, CDMA), BlueTooth and Wi-Fi radio's transmitting.

 

[Gasu E.]

How do these government entities think that they have the right to ban cell phone calls on flights?!? These authoritarian losers make me sick.
Get. Out. Of. My. Life.

I'm ok with your making cell phones on flights that I am on, as long as they are not loud enough for me to hear. You are welcome to make calls using inaudible subvocalization all you like. If you are not ok with this, please Get. Out. Of. My. Life.

Thanks.

 

[epmatsw]

If that is the case you must live in Jerusalem. Wow. Phones ringing every two seconds and everyone talks on the bus there and loudly. Seriously. Very annoying.

Of the 500K plus miles I've flown in my lifetime the only times I've found a plane noisy, other than during takeoff or landing, is if a baby is upset or some rube has there headset jacked up too loud. People usually talk in hushed tones, but mostly keep to themselves after the requisite introductory preflight or take-off banter... if there is any.

I don't think people are overreacting to this because frequent fliers understand that it only takes a handful of uncouth loudmouth passengers to ruin the flight for everyone. Again, there is no dire need for anyone to have a phone conversation on a plane. It's 1-4 hours if domestic surely they can hold off for that long just as they do for smoking. And International. Oh geez. Tower of Babel.

31 flights this year Airplane cabins sit at around 95 decibels apparently, which I would call "noisy".

 

[billnye97]

I just completed my 100th flight this year (50th round trip) and I do everything that is humanly possible to drown out the noise around me. The best thing that I bought are the Bose Q15 headphones. It really drowns out the background noise, however, I would still be able to hear someone making a phone call next to me.

People getting upset about crying babies is absolutely ridiculous. It's part of life travelling just like someone putting the seat in front of you all the way down. It's something you have to deal with.

I'm for the ban on the phone calls. I think having people on the phone impedes the safety information (it already is that way now with being able to use electronic devices) and this will just be another way that airlines can squeeze a few more bucks out of you.

 

[bawbac]

I travel a lot more than you, and if something as innocuous as a crying baby can drive you crazy, that's because YOU have not prepared yourself with a way to block out the inevitable noises that will occur around you. That's on YOU not THEM.

And no, the ONLY people who feel that way are the selfish and entitled folks like you that actually think the entire world should revolve around them. Gross.

I believe you're the one being selfish.
You believe that people can act how ever then want, be it rude, uncontrollable or self expression and it's upon others to "deal with it."

Be it someone singing out loud while listening to headphones, playing drums on their seat, making noise in general, it should not be upon an individual to "deal with it" and find a means to block said distractions.


Those making the distractions are the ones that should be respectful to others and be prepared to not distract others.

It's like saying "deal with it" when someone parks 10 feet from your front door and honks a fire truck horn at 130db repeatedly every 10 seconds at 5 second intervals for 2 hours.

 

[kdarling]

As much as people want to think this is about voice, for the Cell Phone carriers, it is not. They want to compete with Wifi in flight. It more about the data, and the fee you will pay for this service when you use it, just like wifi. It will not be free as a part of your plan.

It is true that it will not be free as part of your plan. However, it's not the carriers who will be implementing this.

The service will not require equipment onboard for the most part. The only case of that would be if the flight is not in range of cell phone towers that provide that service. i.e. over the water etc.

On the contrary, equipment is definitely needed. Phones are out of decent range once you're above about 2,000 feet, and the FCC still doesn't want you talking to multiple ground cells.

The whole point of the proposal, is that cell service will only be available above 10,000 feet, and only from an onboard low-power picocell, which usually communicates via satellite link into a ground based carrier network.

In fact, many such picocell systems include a jammer that prevents passenger phones from talking outside the aircraft, while the picocell is in operation and/or you're below 10,000 feet in flight.

Here's how it'll work:

1. You turn on your phone above 10,000 feet, and you enable roaming.
2. Your phone will connect in roaming mode to the airplane's picocell.
   (You'll see the picocell name in the statusbar as if it were a carrier.)
3. You then make voice calls or exchange text messages.
4. Your usual phone bill will contain the extra roaming charges.

I'm not sure what the current prices are, but it used to be about $2.50 a minute for voice, and $0.50 per text message.

 

[bryanescuela]

Re:

I fly on average of 20+ flights a year and please no talking!

We business travelers want it quiet

And shut your baby up.

You're a terrible parent by letting it cry

Most stupid comment ever...

 

[powers74]

100 ppl chatting away out loud?

**** no.

But. I also say hell no to regulation. Let the airlines decide to make this policy or not.

I was going to post exactly this.