Congress considers airline cell phone ban

[The Straight Story]

Congress considers airline cell phone ban

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- A flight attendants' union says it supports a U.S. congressional bill to ban cell phone use by passengers while a plane is in flight.

"Cell phone use in the cabin would introduce a new aviation security risk, compromise flight attendants ability to maintain order in an emergency and increase cabin noise and tension among passengers," the Association of Flight Attendants said in a statement.

The bill authored by U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, R-Ore., has passed the House but has not yet been considered by the Senate, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Monday.

The Federal Communication Commission already bans cell phone use in flight. European airlines, however, allow such conversations and DeFazio says it's just a matter of time before U.S. airlines push for the option to entice more customers.

DeFazio's bill -- called the Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace Act -- or HANG UP -- is opposed by the Inflight Passenger Communications Coalition, a group of telecommunications and satellite industry groups.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/08/31/Congress-considers-airline-cell-phone-ban/UPI-87121251742307/

Why ban them? According to some in the dungeon cell phones won't work in planes anyway :hide:

[melm00se]

1. ban cell phones

won't make a difference when wireless networking and internet access are available on planes - skype or other VoIP service will then be available.

[strategery blunder]

2. For the low, low price of $19.99 per second or character.

[melm00se]

3. nope

gogo charges $10 for flights under 3 hours and $13 for flights 3+ hours.

[strategery blunder]

4. It's still a complete rip-off.

I'll just do without. I'll pay a couple bucks for a Starbucks pastry so I can mooch off their internet at the airport, for 1/4 the price. And I get a snack to go with my internet.

I suppose I should've thrown in the :sarcasm: thingy though.