Ban on in-flight calling proposed because people talking is annoying

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Although the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to consider a rule change that would allow cellular phone calls during airplane flights, Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said his department will consider banning in-flight calls. In addition Sens Lamar Alexander (D-TN) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) sponsored legislation called the Commercial Flight Courtesy Act to ban in-flight phone calls.

"Over the past few weeks, we have heard of concerns raised by airlines, travelers, flight attendants, members of Congress, and others who are all troubled over the idea of passengers talking on cellphones in flight -- and I am concerned about this possibility as well," Sec Foxx said. "As the FCC has said before, their sole role on this issue is to examine the technical feasibility of the use of mobile devices in flight… DOT will now begin a process that will look at the possibility of banning these in-flight calls."


Ban on in-flight calling proposed because people talking is annoying Bill introduced in Senate to ban in-flight calls (The Hill) Future of In-Flight Calls Hits New Regulatory Hurdle (Wall Street Journal) DOT could save Wheeler on in-flight calls (The Hill) U.S. transportation head joins debate on in-flight calls (Reuters) In-flight phone call ban considered by Department of Transportation (Los Angeles Times) DOT chief confirms likely ban on in-flight calls (The Hill) Anthony Foxx: DOT will consider banning cell phone calls on planes (Politico) U.S. Agencies Dance Around Cellphone Use Aloft (NYTimes) Phones Likely to Stay Silent on Planes Amid Backlash (WSJ) US agencies debate use of mobile phone calls during flights (FT)