Senators Propose Bill Prohibiting Phone Calls On Planes

SonicSpike writes with news that two U.S. Senators, Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), have proposed legislation to ban cell phone calls while aboard an airplane. This follows a recent announcement from the FAA increasing the range of electronic gadgets travelers can use while flying, and a vote by the FCC to consider allowing phone calls during flight. However, even as those government agencies work to lift regulations on in-flight technology, the Department of Transportation is pondering a in-flight call ban of its own, saying it might not be "fair" to consumers to have to listen to other passengers talk on the phone throughout a long flight. FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said, "If we move beyond what we do here today and actually update our rules to allow voice calls on planes we can see a future where our quiet time is monetized and seating in the silent section comes at a premium."

Re:what?

[SJHillman]

"such as being able to forcibly disembark a passenger immediately upon violating a voice-call prohibition"

I propose an exception - if the violation happens before take-off, they should have to wait until the plane reaches a certain minimum altitude before the forcible disembarkation.

Charge $10/minute

[aegl]

Airline keeps half. The rest is distributed to the people sitting next to the person making the call.

Re:what?

[DexterIsADog]

Yeah, it would be awful if congress were to, say, spend enough time to rationally examine energy policy, and pass laws to encourage responsible nuclear power in addition to renewables.

Re:what?

[Anonymous Coward]

To be fair, those two also happened to be a priority for the President at one point or another.

Re:what?

[Virtucon]

SO what you're saying is find the nearest emergency exit and throw her out? I'll keep that in mind.

Re:what?

[GameboyRMH]

Exactly. Correlation != Causation

Babies

[x0ra]

Dear Senator Feinstein,

Could you please pass a law to create a new felony for crying on a plane. All there uneducated babies are really, but really annoying me when I am trying to browse porn sites while in the middle of a transcontinental flight.

Kind regards,
- x0ra