Controversy over proposal to allow cellphone calls in flight tests new FCC Chairman Wheeler

It didn’t take long for Tom Wheeler, the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, to face controversy. On Dec 12, the agency’s five-member commission is set to vote on whether to allow the public to comment on Wheeler’s idea to enable cellphone calls and Internet access on flights. That may sound like a minor procedural motion. But the proposal has generated so much backlash that some commissioners are wavering on whether to even take that step.

Chairman Wheeler and another Democrat on the commission are expected to sign off on creating a public commenting period. But the other Democrat and the two Republican commissioners are hearing an outcry of protest from consumers and some lawmakers, and there is no guarantee that they would support opening the matter for review, FCC officials said. Chairman Wheeler said that he understands “the consternation caused by the thought of your onboard seatmate disturbing the flight making phone calls. I do not want the person in the seat next to me yapping at 35,000 feet any more than anyone else. But we are not the Federal Courtesy Commission.” He added: “Technology has produced a new network reality recognized by governments and airlines around the world. Our responsibility is to recognize that new reality’s impact on our old rules.” Some expect companies to jump on the proposal if the FCC ultimately approves the idea, said an aide to an FCC commissioner. “Once the FCC gets out of the way, you have to imagine airlines are immediately thinking of how to monetize it,” the aide said.