GOP pushes for ban on in-flight phone calls

Cell phone calls during flights would be banned under an aviation funding bill that is scheduled to be considered by lawmakers in the House during the week of Feb 8. The Federal Communications Commission caused a stir in 2013 when it considered lifting a current ban on in-flight cell phone calls after the Federal Aviation Administration moved to allow more electronic devices to be during flights. The FCC reasoned that it is now less of a concern that in-flight calls would interfere with airplane navigation equipment than it was when most of the electronic bans were put in place.

The potential end of the call ban has drawn widespread opposition, with critics fearful it would lead to loud telephone conversations in the crowded confines of airline cabins. The Federal Aviation Administration measure unveiled by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee during the week of Feb 1 would enshrine the ban on in-flight calls in federal law, regardless of the diminishing safety concerns. The panel said the measure, known as the Air Innovation Reform and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act, "prohibits the use of cell phones and mobile devices for voice communication during commercial flights." The House Transportation Committee is scheduled to hold an initial hearing on the FAA bill on Feb 11.