The United States agency overseeing the telecommunications industry is asking an agency assigned to civil aviation to limit restrictions on the use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) in flights. The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission wrote to the Federal Aviation Administration to ask for a review on rules that limit the use of electronics during takeoff and landing. Julius Genachowski, the chairman of the FCC, says that the devices are necessary for passengers to connect to people and they enable businesses to be more productive.
What Else You Need To Know
- Currently passengers on aircraft are required to turn off their electronic devices, including cellphones, tablets, laptops and gaming systems, for take-offs and landings.
- long-standing FAA policy was enforced due to concerns of the PEDs' potential interference to the aircraft's navigation and communication systems.
- In August, the FAA did announce that it's reviewing its policies on PEDs, but the review excludes cellphones.
Other sources
While it sounds like not doing so would be un-patriotic with a pitch like that, the FAA has already formed a committee to revisit its current portable electronics policies and hasn't arrived at any decisions yet -- safety first, after all.- Steve Dent, Engadget
Although the government agency has lifted many of its bans, voice communication during flight is still off the table. Honestly, that may be for the best. Imagine 200 people talking to their friends on a cell phone for four hours. Don’t think that wouldn’t happen eventually, too. It would.- Lory, Pad Gadget
- Electronista
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- FCC Chairman urges FAA to loosen airline tablet use rules
- Engadget
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FCC tells FAA to 'boost US competitiveness,' allow greater use of in-flight devices
While it sounds like not doing so would be un-patriotic with a pitch like that, the FAA has already formed a committee to revisit its current portable electronics policies and hasn't arrived at any decisions yet -- safety first, after all.
- Other
- F.C.C. Calls on F.A.A. to Allow Electronics on Planes
- iPhone Download Blog
- FCC asks FAA to allow greater use of electronic devices in-flight
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- Hope springs eternal: FCC says in 18 months you can text 9-1-1
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- The Inquirer
- FCC writes to the FAA about relaxing in-flight electronics rules
- Other
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FCC Chairman Pushing FAA to Allow Tablet Use During Takeoff and Landing
Although the government agency has lifted many of its bans, voice communication during flight is still off the table. Honestly, that may be for the best. Imagine 200 people talking to their friends on a cell phone for four hours. Don’t think that wouldn’t happen eventually, too. It would.
- Business Insider SAI
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