Current Events > FCC Chairman Wants to Keep Ban on In-Flight Cellphone Calls

(+) Yeah! (+)

http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/gadgets/fcc-chairman-wants-keep-ban-flight-cellphone-calls-n744976

A key federal regulator wants to ditch a plan that would have allowed air travelers to make in-flight cellphone calls, saying the move is a win for Americans who "value a moment of quiet at 30,000 feet."

The Federal Communications Commission had considered lifting a ban on high-altitude calls, suggesting in a 2013 proposal that the policy was "outdated." But the current chairman of the agency announced Monday he would stop that plan from taking off, leaving in place rules that date back to the early 1990s.

"I do not believe that moving forward with this plan is in the public interest," new FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement Monday. "Taking it off the table permanently will be a victory for Americans across the country who, like me, value a moment of quiet at 30,000 feet."

I think this is awesome. All I would do on a plane is sleep. Why would someone even need to make a phone call on a plane anyway?
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Are they gonna ban small children too?
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Good, I would probably get pissed off if I had to sit next to someone talking on a phone nonstop.
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Asherlee10 posted...

However, I think it is pretty rude to have phone calls in such close quarters (planes, buses, etc.).

Same especially when they talk about something nobody else around them wants to hear.
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Superlinkbro posted...

Why would someone even need to make a phone call on a plane anyway?

People who work. My dad is probably the sort of person who would make calls on a plane, assuming the service didn't cost more.

I could maybe imagine quiet rooms or something that are largely soundproofed so people can make calls in peace and not disturb others as well, but maybe only for business class.
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I can't imagine most cell phones would work on the plane at all. You're going really fast over the towers and in some cases over the ocean. SatPhones might work, but they would be really rare.
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Asherlee10 posted...

SGT_Conti posted...

Superlinkbro posted...

Why would someone even need to make a phone call on a plane anyway?

People who work. My dad is probably the sort of person who would make calls on a plane, assuming the service didn't cost more.

I also fly for work pretty often and with the technology we have today, we don't have to talk on the phone. There is skype, email, text, slack, etc.

I think it's just the older generation that would have trouble with that.

Personally, I feel text communication is enough, especially with how hard it can be to hear anything on a plane. However, my dad's exactly the kind of old-school person who would prefer calling given the option.

ChromaticAngel posted...

I can't imagine most cell phones would work on the plane at all. You're going really fast over the towers and in some cases over the ocean. SatPhones might work, but they would be really rare.

I found this article.

https://www.howtogeek.com/194421/what-does-airplane-mode-do-and-is-it-really-necessary/

You wouldn’t normally be able to connect to cell towers on the ground, but an airplane that allowed cellular radios would be equipped with â€picocells.†These are small cellular base stations to which phones in the plane would connect just like they would any other cell tower. The picocell then beams their signal to a communications satellite, which in turn beams the signal back to a base station on the ground where it can connect to Earth’s cellular networks.
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Superlinkbro posted...

value a moment of quiet at 30,000 feet.

What? Literally what?
Being on an airplane is anything but quiet.
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Thank god.
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scar the 1 posted...

Superlinkbro posted...

value a moment of quiet at 30,000 feet.

What? Literally what?
Being on an airplane is anything but quiet.

Eh, the plane engines plus someone trying to talk over the plane engines just ends up a little loud. It's like when babies cry on the plane.
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Alternatively, offer complimentary noise canceling headphones. That way people who want to talk can talk, annoying babies can annoying baby, and those who want silence can have silence. Win win for everybody

Darklit_Minuet posted...

Alternatively, offer complimentary noise canceling headphones. That way people who want to talk can talk, annoying babies can annoying baby, and those who want silence can have silence. Win win for everybody

Yes offer complimentary $100~ headphones that makes sense for airlines.
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Asherlee10 posted...

I've even had someone tug on my earphone cord to get my attention.

why
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Asherlee10 posted...

I've even had someone tug on my earphone cord to get my attention.

aww

hell

naw
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Asherlee10 posted...

They work through in-flight wifi, also.

I didn't think about that. You're right.
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SK8T3R215 posted...

Darklit_Minuet posted...

Alternatively, offer complimentary noise canceling headphones. That way people who want to talk can talk, annoying babies can annoying baby, and those who want silence can have silence. Win win for everybody

Yes offer complimentary $100~ headphones that makes sense for airlines.

The trick is not to let them take them off the plane, that way they remain reusable. Attach them to the seats.

Or hell, cheap earplugs work, you can buy hundreds of them on amazon for a few dollars

I wish trains would have more quiet cars. I hate people who talk to each other across the train car so much.
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Asherlee10 posted...

I've even had someone tug on my earphone cord to get my attention.

got triggered just thinking of this happening to me
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Asherlee10 posted...

LightHawKnight posted...

I wish trains would have more quiet cars. I hate people who talk to each other across the train car so much.

Slightly relevant. I went to a coffee shop on Saturday and they had a very strict No Phone Calls policy. It was pretty nice to go in there and everyone was using library-voices when chatting with each other, too.

Library I go to for studying has people taking phone calls and their kids being loud all the time. I have to bring ear plugs just to not get distracted.
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Is texting ok?
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Asherlee10 posted...

I've even had someone tug on my earphone cord to get my attention. Not sure why someone thought that was appropriate.

They would have had to make an emergency landing because I'd have lost my shit.
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Asherlee10 posted...

hortanz posted...

Asherlee10 posted...

I've even had someone tug on my earphone cord to get my attention.

got triggered just thinking of this happening to me

Haha - same thing with my boss. I told him about that and he nearly came unglued just thinking about it.

If a stranger ever did that to me they would just get the death stare and complete silence from me
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ChromaticAngel posted...

I can't imagine most cell phones would work on the plane at all. You're going really fast over the towers and in some cases over the ocean. SatPhones might work, but they would be really rare.

Most newer phones allow you to make calls over wifi, and most modern planes now have wifi.
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If people really want to, they can use those phones installed in the seat backs.
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The Admiral posted...

ChromaticAngel posted...

I can't imagine most cell phones would work on the plane at all. You're going really fast over the towers and in some cases over the ocean. SatPhones might work, but they would be really rare.

Most newer phones allow you to make calls over wifi, and most modern planes now have wifi.

I noticed my phone had VoLTE activated and I had no fucking idea that it was even a thing.
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