Law Would Ban U.S. In-Flight Cell Phone Use
Despite legal and technical progress that would allow for in-flight cell phone use on U.S. carriers lawmakers are proposing a bill that would ground any plans that would allow passengers to make cell phone calls 30,000 feet in the air.
Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced the HANG UP Act that, if passed, would make it illegal to talk on a cell phone while in-flight on U.S. airlines. The law would not attempt to restrict all cell phone use, just "voice communications." According to the bill passengers could still use their cell phones to access the Internet, e-mail and send text messages.
Ringtones in Coach at 30,000 Feet
"The public doesn't want to be subjected to people talking on their cell phones on an already over-packed airplane," DeFazio said. "However, with Internet access just around the corner on U.S. flights, it won't be long before the ban on voice communications on in-flight planes is lifted."
Cell phone use has already been approved by the European Commission which has agreed to open the door for mobile phones on planes. Also Dubai-base Emirates Airline is the world's first to allow authorized in-flight mobile phone calls on a commercial flight.
Good Idea, Bad Bill
This is not a bill that I can completely get behind. As Congressman DeFazio says himself, "Polls show that the American public is strongly opposed to allowing cell phone use in-flight. They don't just oppose the idea, they hate it."
Passing a bill for something that will be self-regulated by the already existing "hate" of in-flight cell phone use to me seems frivolous. While it?s nice that Congress is looking out for our convenience, it is just that, a convenience. It seems to me there are much more important things Congress should focus on, like the Cell Tax Fairness Act, before matters that are a self-regulating convenience.
PC World's Marketplace
PC World's Free Whitepapers
tech news tech blogs community & forums laptop prices software reviews downloads
Yeah the cell phone use issue on planes would be "self reglated" by the universal disgust for it just like it "self regulates" its use in restaurants, in movie theaters, on ski lifts, on buses etc. I'm sorry but I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one... Never underestimate the power of self-centric, rude behavior.