FCC Moves to Continue Cell Phone Ban on Flights

While the FCC has been considering removing the cell phone ban on flights since 2004, it is reported by CNN that the federal agency has moved to keep the ban in place. Unlike the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which bans the use of all electronic equipment 10 minutes prior to take off and 10 minutes prior to landing, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) voted to keep the airplane cell phone ban in place due to concerns of interference with cell phone communication on the ground.

Currently, the phones that are installed on airplanes have their own dedicated FCC channel. There is no fear of interference with any communication on the ground. However, cell phone use on airplanes opens the possibility that cell phones on a flight could overwhelm local towers along the flight path. In absence of proof that such interference won't occur, the FCC erred on the side of caution.

In addition, there are social considerations as well. "'These days it's impossible to get on a bus without at least one person hollering into their cell phone, invading the private space of everyone around them,' one member of the public wrote in an e-mail to the FCC. 'That's bad enough when one can get off in 10 minutes. To have to suffer through HOURS of such torture, with nowhere to go and miserably cramped conditions -- someone is going to explode.'" (CNN Article) Indeed, the FCC was bombarded with a barrage of such e-mails when it was made public that they were taking the matter under consideration.

Another such e-mail "related the story of a 'dimwitted young lady' who had a 'most inane conversation' after his flight had landed. 'The idea of a person being a captive audience to someone yapping on the phone is simply a recipe for a lot of anger and a fair share of conflicts,'he wrote." (CNN Article) While many frequent business travelers might bemoan the continued cell phone ban, many other passengers are hailing it as a victory for sanity.

In making the decision today, the FCC left open the possibility of lifting the ban in the future. In the event that evidence is presented that proves there are no technical difficulties of lifting the ban, the FCC is willing to reconsider the ban. Hopefully the social impact of lifting the ban will be taken under consideration as well. For now, passengers that enjoy a flight without the annoyance of having someone chat endlessly on their cell phone for the entire flight have the FCC and FAA to thank.