CNET December 10, 2013
CNET COMMUNITY
How do you feel about in-flight cell phone calls?

Dear CNET members,

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In October the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave the green light to allow the use of electronic devices from takeoff to landing, which allows you to play games, read books, listen to music and videos, and so on. But what it doesn’t allow is voice calls or mobile broadband services. However, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission is considering also lifting this ban — which would mean that at above 10,000 feet, the person next to you could break out his cell phone and start chatting with his buddies about what a great partying week he had.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not too keen on hearing everyone’s conversations throughout my flight. And the great news is a chairman of the House Transportation Committee agrees with me (OK, he’s not exactly agreeing with me, but I share his opinion). As he says, flights are noisy enough without having to listen to a plane full of passengers shouting to be heard on their phones. He has introduced a bill that would prohibit passengers from making in-flight cell phone calls on commercial aviation flights.

So what do you think of all this? Do you support a bill to prohibit cell phone calls in planes? Why or why not? Do you even think the government should be involved in this at all or should it be left to the airlines to decide? If the ban was lifted, what do you imagine would happen? More air rage and scuffles among passengers? Or maybe nothing — people will be respectful and everyone will be able to take advantage of it. Check out this CNET article titled “New House bill seeks to ban in-flight cell phone calls” and share your thoughts!

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Why can’t the airlines decide? I’d much rather have free wifi.

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