On Dec. 12 the FCC (News - Alert) passed a procedural vote for a year-long review, giving the public an opportunity to comment on the lifting of the ban on cell phone calls on planes. Well, the FCC didn't have to wait a whole year before it started receiving a salvo of comments, some fit to print and others that shouldn't be mentioned in polite company. The outrage was swift and to the point, which more than anything speaks of the disdain we all have for being around people who are completely oblivious when it comes to common courtesy.
The volley of comments came from consumers, politicians and commentators. An article written by Susan Nunziata on enterpriseefficiency.com titled, "In-Flight Calls: Fearing the Babbling Skies" sums it up very well. An anger management therapist on BBC saying people that use mobiles without consideration to others are, "egomaniacal narcissists" also articulated the point succinctly, with a British point of view.
The FCC could no longer ban cell phone use on planes on technical merits, so it basically kicked the can to airline operators and told them to establish their own policies regarding this issue. It should be noted the ban has been lifted in Europe since 2008, and as of yet there hasn't been any incidence of airline rage, but the American psyche is different, and the FCC should seriously take that into consideration.
The FCC also conducted a study, titled "Study on the Use of Cell Phones on Passenger Aircraft Report", which was directed by the FAA to determine the impact of the uses of cell phones for voice communications in an aircraft during a flight in scheduled passenger air transportation. According to the report, "the impact on the passengers' flight experience on most of the non-US civil aviation authorities reported no negative passenger comments or complaints related to on-board cell phone use."
So you really can't blame the FCC for making an informed decision based on science and research, but experienced travelers are keenly aware of the volatile environment of a confined space, where science and research mean diddly. When you combine alcohol, stress, and loud obnoxious conversations on cell phones about reality TV, it will only be a matter of time before some serious event takes place.
The complaint also came from a group that will suffer more than any other if the ban is lifted without any control measures from the airlines, flight attendants. Their union, said, "Any situation that is loud, divisive, and possibly disruptive is not only unwelcome but also unsafe," wise words to live by, at least while flying.
Since science and research was responsible for this decision, passengers should know the technology used to provide communications on planes can be programmed with different levels of service. This includes blocking data, voice or both. A good example is Virgin Atlantic, which allows unlimited data connections to all passengers on a flight, but only six people are allowed to talk at the same time. So, all the hoopla has been for naught.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson