US Politicans Seeks to Ban Phones in Planes
Several US politicians are proposing a law to ban the use of voice communications on mobile phones within aircraft over the USA. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Jerry Costello, John Duncan and Thomas Petri (WI-06) all senior members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Oberstar, have proposed the new legistlation.
The European Union recently announced that it will allow people to talk on their cell phones while a plane is in-flight on all commercial airlines. Additionally, U.S. airlines are already experimenting with in-flight Internet access.
The proposed law, H.R. 5788, the HANG UP Act, Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace Act, would insure that voice communication does not happen on U.S. flights.
"The public doesn’t want to be subjected to people talking on their cell phones on an already over-packed airplane," DeFazio said. "However, with Internet access just around the corner on U.S. flights, it won’t be long before the ban on voice communications on in-flight planes is lifted. Our bill, the HANG UP Act, would ensure that financially strapped airlines don’t drive us towards this noisome disruption in search of further revenue."
"Cell phone users should not be able to disrupt the comfort of an entire airplane cabin, especially when other passengers have no choice but to sit there and listen," said Duncan. "This bill will ensure a relative amount of peace for the American public as they take to an increasingly crowded sky."
The legislation only prohibits voice communications in-flight but passengers would still be able to access the Internet, e-mail and send text messages as these technologies become available on airplanes.
Any proposed legislation would need to be carefully drafted so as to ensure that while internet access is permitted - the use of VoIP is somehow forbidden, while still permitting VoIP as a potential service for built-in telephones.
Posted to the site on 17th April 2008
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