Opposition to Airborne Cell Phones Floods FCC

[Tab]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. air travelers wasted little time barraging communications regulators with hundreds of e-mails registering their opposition to ending the ban on the use of mobile phones during commercial flights.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday unanimously proposed lifting the ban if issues about safety and technical hurdles can be overcome. FCC officials said their mandate was to facilitate communications.

But the potential of scores of passengers talking on mobile phones during a lengthy flight has many travelers worried that their last quiet haven from such conversations will evaporate.

"We've received a couple hundred e-mails from the public, most of whom believe that use of devices that don't involve talking are fine, but are not looking forward to the possibility of hearing more conversations than they do now," said Lauren Patrich, a spokeswoman for the FCC wireless bureau.

The FCC's consumer bureau also received more than 1,200 e-mails on the subject.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1896&ncid=1896&e=15&u=/nm/20041216/us_nm/telecoms_wireless_airplanes_dc

[hlthe2b]

1. Good!

I'm so sick of how narcissistic people become on their phones. Whether it is nearly ramming into you with their car as they chat distractedly away, or slamming you with their shopping cart, with neary an apology, but merely a nasty look........ cell phones make many already horrendously rude people, totally unbearable.

[Bill McBlueState]

6. nasty looks

Hey, if I ever run into you with my shopping cart when I'm on my cell phone and give you a nasty look, please understand two things:

-I look that way all the time (nasty, that is).
-I lack the mental facilities to apologize to you while conversing with someone else.

I'm not rude, I just have poor social skills. :)

That's why I'm kind of afraid of cell phones to begin with.

[hlthe2b]

13. snarf!

Be afraid... be very afraid! LOL

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Airplanes were the last refuge for the cell-phoneless!!!!!

What possible reason could make it necessary to talk on cell phones on airplanes!!! DAMN!!! As you said....NARCISSISM at its
utmost.......yech!

[Eugene]

5. If someone will be waiting for you to arrive

it may be necessary to call them
if your flight is significantly delayed.
I had to use the AirFone once
for just this reason.
It would have been too late
if I had waited until landing.

[MindLikeAParachute]

3. But one question...

On 9/11, for the planes that were hijacked, there were a number of cell calls placed. Of course, an FCC ban isn't going to prevent anyone from hauling it out of their pocket during a hijacking, but with the planes going a couple of hundred miles an hour, how did that all work (I mean technically)?

I thought with the new proposal, each plane would have a repeater that sent the signal up to a satellite, but obviously it was physically possible to make calls already.

[parkenyc]

4. What was the original reason for the ban?

Why was it banned in the past, but now it would be acceptable? I thought there was potential interference with the plane's communication system.

[karlrschneider]

8. That was the excuse, but we've used them on the plane I fly for years

and never had any interference. The frequencies are WAY different...

[robcon]

7. I'm delighted that I can use my cell phone on planes.

I often need to call - I've been a big user of the phonesets provided.

[rodeodance]

9. I do not cell phones on planes!!

[aquart]

10. A call in public is an invitation to join in the conversation.

That's what my Mama says. So I do.

If I've made the day of any cellphone user just a little bit worse, I have my reward. Like to make it a lot worse.

[SoCalDem]

11. As long as all the "yakkers" have to sit in a designated area

and I NEVER have to sit within hearing distance of them.. and TURN THE DAMNED RINGER OFF.. I do not want to listen to your dumb music.

[alarimer]

12. those batteries don't last very long

My cell phone battery would only last about 2 hours of continuous talking. I think most phones are like that. There is nowhere for them to recharge (at least there isn't right now). That is the only bright side I can think of.