On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to seek public comment regarding lifting the ban on in-flight cell phone calls. Another vote would be required to actually end the ban. This proposal is far from being approved legislation, and the process would definitely take more than a year. The FCC previously banned calls for technical reasons, but improved technology has made that obsolete: in-flight voice calls are already allowed in various countries. In fact, two months ago the Federal Aviation Administration allowed the use of portable electronic devices for all phases of flight.Reaction to this proposal has been mixed to negative, however. An AP poll released Wednesday found that 48% oppose voice calls, while only 19% support calls, the main reason being noise and terror concerns. Among those who have flown more than once in the past year, the percentage that opposes grows to 59%.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee introduced a bill to ban cell phone calls but to allow text messaging. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Lamar Alexander introduced similar legislation. Should phone calls be allowed, or only text messaging?
9 comments:
Alright, first off I have only been on a plane twice back and forth, but I think I have a solid idea of what a plane ride can be like. It's not a large ride inside, and personally I already get annoyed when people make phone calls in enclosed areas where many other people are around. For example a Starbucks or even in a car with others in. One person answers or make a phone, talking obnoxiously in the way of others, creating this uncomfortable environment for me and I'm sure others. So I guess I will call it noise pollution. I think that texting is fine but I am against allowing phone calls in airplanes unless it is for a emergency.
I agree with Keith that allowing phone calls on airplanes is not a good idea. I been on airplanes numerous times and it is a rather quiet environment. One person on their phone would effect anybody in the vicinity of the person creating quite a disturbance. Also if somebody was talking in a language other than English it could create fear that the caller is trying to bomb the plane. However I agree with Keith that texting would be an acceptable thing to do during flights.
While this feature may be helpful in alerting one's family members that they've arrived to their destination safely, people may abuse the use of telephone calls to chat and pass time on long plane rides, potentially disturbing those around them. Personally, I feel that a plane ride with simply the engine noises is annoying enough, but having to endure that along with another passenger chatting away on their phone would be unbearable.
I completely agree with the above posts that phone usage should not be allowed during flights because it would be distracting and noisy on the flight. Personally, I am most efficient when I am doing homework on an airplane because I do not have the distractions from my cell phone and internet. Also, because phone usage isn't allowed on planes due to technical reasons, even with advanced technology, can still create issues, as we all know even the most high tech or functional items still malfunction.
I think that having a ban on in-flight phone calls is now somewhat ridiculous due to the improved technology. This does not mean, however, that I would support everybody making calls while on the plane. I would rather see the ban lifted, but then have the individual airlines decide whether or not you can have phone conversations. I believe that as long as you aren't disrupting the function of the flight, electronics should be allowed; this would text messaging.
Another point I find interesting is the idea that using a cell phone on a plane would increase terror risks. Text messages would do the same thing? Also, who is to say that somebody wouldn't break the little rule of phone calls during the flight?
People should be able to use electronics on planes as long as it doesn't greatly disrupt others.
I recently went on a plane, and when I heard that small electronic devices may be used on the plane, I was like what? After being told all the time that phones and other electronic devices can't be used on flight, it's kind of surprising. I'm kind of glad that phones and other devices can be used on flight now. However, I can see how phone calls can quickly become annoying. I think it should be treated like on buses and trains; try to limit phone calls unless it is an emergency. If I were on a red eye flight, I would definitely not want to hear someone on their phone. I think texting is perfectly fine; it's quiet, and it doesn't really bother anyone.
In terms of security; I think maybe we're becoming too paranoid. It's a good thing to worry, however, planes aren't much different than buses or trains, and the likelihood of a terrorist attack is also quite slim. I also don't think people should be targeted as terrorists just because they're talking in another language on the phone. Perhaps we're worrying too much about plane security, rather than other pressing matters.
Like people have stated above, I do think its kind of a bother when other people are talking obnoxiously in such an enclosed area. If there was an emergency I think that would be an appropiate time to whip out a phone to make a call. But one thing is, I dont go on airplanes that often but from the times I have been on a plane I noticed that airplanes have phones built into the backs of the seats. So wouldn't a cell phone ban not really help when trying to cut back on noise problems? Someone could still pay the fee to use the plane phones and make the same amount of noise as if they were using a cell phone. I dont know, maybe Im not making sense. But it seems like this ban is in proposition to mainly calm those afraid of terror rather than the loudness of other passengers.
I agree with Keith, having flown over 15 times in the past year, it would get very annoying if people were constantly talking on their phones. I dont think anyone would die if they couldn't be on their phone for a few hours. With in-flight wifi, I really do not see the need for phone calls because you can do virtually anything over the internet that you would need to say over the phone. For safety reasons, I think it would be best to just keep the calling feature banned and just let people wait it out.
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