FCC to Consider Allowing Cell Phones on Planes

[Jerry Raia]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.computerweekly.com/articles/article.asp?liArticleID=135901&liArticleTypeID=1&liCategoryID=6&liChannelID=2&liFlavourID=1&sSearch=&nPage=1' target='_blank'>http://www.computerweekly.com/articles/article.asp?liArticleID=135901&liArticleTypeID=1&liCategoryID=6&liChannelID=2&liFlavourID=1&sSearch=&nPage=1</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday kicked off efforts that could reshape the communications services available to airline passengers. The FCC has proposed to relax its ban on the use of cellular phones in flight. It will auction radio frequencies in the 800MHz band in the hopes of spurring new onboard services that could include voice, data and broadband internet access, the agency said in a statement."</i><br /><br />This is an update to an earlier front page post. Yesterday the FCC took the next step and issued what they call a "Notice of Proposed Rule Making" (NPRM). This is basically a period where they take public comments before they make a rule change.

[Kris Kumar]

I was reading about it and it seems there is two parts to the ban.

1. FCC ban: That prevents cell phone use in air because it messes up the cell towers on the ground.

2. FAA ban: That prevents cell phone use inside the plane, because of the fear that it can cause trouble to the onboard electronics.

But glad that the federal agencies are taking the right steps. And they have already cleared WiFi in air. So pretty soon I will be able to use 802.11b or similar tech in air. :-)

I don't think I really want voice (cell phone) in air. Not to mention I don't want my neighbor to blah-blah-blah through out the flight. In fact I would be happy if they enabled GPRS/Data in air and also SMS. But no voice. I wonder if that can be done. :?

But having access to wireles internet is great.

[Jerry Raia]

Kris all I really want is internet access in the plane as well. I think it would be much easier to IM and email than try to hold a phone conversation anyway.