A bill to ban in-flight calls just cleared a key House committee vote

When the Federal Communications Commission said it was going to relax the rules concerning cellphone technology on airplanes, it touched off a firestorm of public criticism. Nobody likes a chatty seatmate. Some called for the Department of Transportation to ban in-flight calling altogether. The House Transportation Committee took a step in that direction, passing a bill that would require the DOT to impose such a prohibition with exceptions for flight crew, attendants and on-duty law enforcement officials. Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) said his bill would restore balance to airplane cabins everywhere. "My message is simple when it comes to cellphones on planes," said Rep Shuster. "Tap, don’t talk."