They're both in favor of it and neither has "final say." The FCC's power is limited to when there is potential interference problems with communications devices, and it has said it no longer feels there is a problem. Thus, it can no longer ban cell phone usage, even though the department's personal feelings was that flights were more enjoyable with the ban in place. When they announced the change, they mentioned that the DOT could ban it as a part of its regulations without regard to communications problems.
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U.S. Department of Transportation to Pursue Ban on In-Flight Cell Phone Calls
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They're both in favor of it and neither has "final say." The FCC's power is limited to when there is potential interference problems with communications devices, and it has said it no longer feels there is a problem. Thus, it can no longer ban cell phone usage, even though the department's personal feelings was that flights were more enjoyable with the ban in place. When they announced the change, they mentioned that the DOT could ban it as a part of its regulations without regard to communications problems.
Bottom line, too many people are inconsiderate, ignorant, and take your pick of whatever else. For the sake of everyone in general for something as important and sensitive as mass air travel more inforceable overall rules are needed to avoid as many issues as possible. It's quite simple, even if some might not like it.
So, given this board's general objection to federal intervention on inflight phones, how about the TSA - is that overreach? After all, how many bombers have you met?
I find it somewhat amusing and sociologically interesting that, although we are rapidly approaching a point where every person on an aircraft would be capable of making a phone call from their seat simultaneously while in flight, and people are generally known to love yakking on their cell phones, a majority (I think a recent poll was something like 60%) would still be in favor of banning voice calls from an in-flight aircraft. After all, it's not like you're out of communication--you can still send a text or email if you have a connection.
Being among them, I'm kind of happy that society, on average, still seems to have a bit of a line that hasn't been crossed. Yet, anyway.
If it was left to a by-carrier decision, and there were some that allowed in-flight voice calls and others that did not, I know for sure I'd fly whichever did not.
It would make sense to just put literal phone booths on planes--maybe an extra-cramped toilet stall with no toilet in the lavatory area--so people so inclined can place a cell call without annoying the rest of the passengers. That, I think, almost no one would complain about (well, other than people who want to be talking from their seat during the entire flight).
Also, get off my lawn.
Being among them, I'm kind of happy that society, on average, still seems to have a bit of a line that hasn't been crossed. Yet, anyway.
If it was left to a by-carrier decision, and there were some that allowed in-flight voice calls and others that did not, I know for sure I'd fly whichever did not.
It would make sense to just put literal phone booths on planes--maybe an extra-cramped toilet stall with no toilet in the lavatory area--so people so inclined can place a cell call without annoying the rest of the passengers. That, I think, almost no one would complain about (well, other than people who want to be talking from their seat during the entire flight).
Also, get off my lawn.
I have a thing against long calls. Phones are to shorten distances, not extended conversations. That stated, I hardly see how a phone call informing "We should be there shortly" is a invasion of your privacy.
Self entitled? Perhaps... welcome to the digital age where everything can be communicated.
Also, remember, we have pseudo-phone calls from flights now a days. Skype (or other VoIP app) can easily be used. So right now your argument is looking as "I want to sleep and a call might keep me awake." Want more comfort? Pony up for 1st/business class and stop being a cheap arse.
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Great idea! Let me a send a text to my dad who can barely use the regular functions on his phone.
Not everyone is tech savvy.
Just to note, one can object to the TSA as largely ineffective security theater designed only to provide the illusion of doing something but only catch or deter only the most amateurish of potential terrorists, without necessarily objecting to the concept of the government providing security for forms of mass transportation.
Just a quick reminder, this bill of the DOT won't pass. Many Congressmen have voiced their support to eliminate ban of phones on flights.
It is not a question of "if", it is a question of when cellphone calls will be allowed. Also, airlines banding together won't do squat.
It is not a question of "if", it is a question of when cellphone calls will be allowed. Also, airlines banding together won't do squat.
Reading an incoming text requires less savvy than even knowing how to answer or place a phone call on a cell.
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Yeah, it's not like the congress representatives have to care about votes and re-elections and all that fun stuff.
Or they can use the internet to check the flight status and even receive text updates about changes.
Yup, all the debate in this thread is irrelevant. Not that anyone will let that get in the way of an ideological rant. Not that MR will correct their misleading article either.
You travel for hours in a bus, train, ship, tram, and what not and people allowed to use mobile phones are all around you! I am genuinely curious to know what makes the flight special? I would personally not use the phone to talk but definitely would browse the internet and text because I find the flights extremely boring. And if I didn't like what I hear around me I would do what I normally do: My earphone on and listen to the music.
Differnces include much larger space, not necessarily confined to a sepecific space for majority of the time, being able to get off if needed or at least get away somewhere, and generally speaking more ways to deal with issues and avoid them then in a much smaller confined space up in the air where options are limited and any potential risk should be minimized even more than most other modes of mass travel.
It isn't a bill; it's a proposed federal regulation. It will be handled entirely by the DOT via the administrative rule-making process.
The takeaway point here being, the airlines are very much financially interested in any in-flight phone calling rule made by the DoT/FAA. Anyone who might imagine that the government will hand down a rule that hasn't won the seal of approval of the involved industries hasn't got the faintest idea how government actually works.
Traveling from lets say from Manchester to London for 5 to 6 hours in a coach in a much more confined space then a plane is not exactly easier. I am all up for banning phones in a flight if it does expose the passengers and the crew to the smallest possible risk, but just because some people think they should have it all for themselves and they want the absolute silence that they get in their very private space...... hell NO.
The DoT/FAA has passed tons of regulations that the industry would prefer they didn't. Noise abatement flight paths that cause increased fuel costs. Just so some airport neighborhoods can get more sleep.
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But rarely ever cross multiple time zones while stuck in one seat and thus needing lots of peace and quiet to prevent or recover from jet lag.
When balanced against the usefulness of something most of what minimizes even the potential for what can easily snowball into something that really shouldn't ever be going on on an airplane seems like a wise thing.
This ban isn't about safety, its about control. Massive government bureaucracies will always reach their tentacles for new things to strangle. I for one don't want people yapping on their cell phones either, but I'd rather have the airlines create their own policies than Big Brother.
Whilst I agree with you that in-flight calls are annoying, I would say banning something just because it's annoying to some is a stupid move. No government should be doing that.
Previously banned owing to safety concerns (that's fine) but now they no longer are there this should not be banned and should be down to individual airlines to decide.
I flew Emirates a few days ago and they allow in-flight calls (the rest of the world is a little less scared of it than the US it seems) and I saw 0 people doing it. People don't generally want it, or want to pay the added cost. So no need to create more legislation where frankly it doesn't need to be.
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You can. I had a small FaceTime conversation with my partner a few days ago 42,000 feet above Germany.
Mind you at £5.35 for 20MB I wouldn't have done it for very long!