New legislation against cell use during flights in the U.S.
Tourist Bureau
As of today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a bill (H.R. 3676) meant to ban the use of cell phones during flights, as the debate on the subject continues to become more and more intense.
Bill Shuster, the chairman for the committee who sponsored the bill stated that talking on the phone in a confined space can translate to additional problems in the air as passenger are inclined to talk over one another.
"I always say we should think carefully whenever Congress' impulse is to say, 'No, you can't,' but both personally and professionally this move to ban in-flight mobile calls feels to me like the right thing to do,” he stated. “In polls, social media and everywhere else, travelers have consistently expressed their opposition to open phone conversations on planes. The flight experience needs all the serenity it can get.”
Certain flight companies like Delta, JetBlue and American have pioneered this ban on cell phone use during flights despite last year’s ruling by the Federal Communications Commission who decided to allow passengers to use their phones while the airplane was above 10.000 feet. "My message is simple when it comes to cell phones on planes: tap, don't talk," - Shuster’s article in ‘The Hill.’
While the FCC allowed some lenience, allowing each airline to impose its own, the bill forwarded by the Transportation Committee permits the use of mobile phones and tablets only for the use internet or movie watching, restricting talking on the device.
The Association of Flight Attendants has also expressed their opposition towards lifting the cell phone ban.
"I don't fault the FCC for finding that these calls could be permissible, but I'm thankful that Chairman Shuster and his committee have stepped in to ponder the question of whether allowing them would actually benefit the travel experience,” Dow stated. “In an age of so much contention in Congress, I'm hoping this measure moves quickly and serves as a reminder that our lawmakers can still move decisively to improve our quality of life in this small but meaningful way. This is one instance where it has been a pleasure to watch the legislative process at work”
Bill Shuster, the chairman for the committee who sponsored the bill stated that talking on the phone in a confined space can translate to additional problems in the air as passenger are inclined to talk over one another.
"I always say we should think carefully whenever Congress' impulse is to say, 'No, you can't,' but both personally and professionally this move to ban in-flight mobile calls feels to me like the right thing to do,” he stated. “In polls, social media and everywhere else, travelers have consistently expressed their opposition to open phone conversations on planes. The flight experience needs all the serenity it can get.”
Certain flight companies like Delta, JetBlue and American have pioneered this ban on cell phone use during flights despite last year’s ruling by the Federal Communications Commission who decided to allow passengers to use their phones while the airplane was above 10.000 feet. "My message is simple when it comes to cell phones on planes: tap, don't talk," - Shuster’s article in ‘The Hill.’
While the FCC allowed some lenience, allowing each airline to impose its own, the bill forwarded by the Transportation Committee permits the use of mobile phones and tablets only for the use internet or movie watching, restricting talking on the device.
The Association of Flight Attendants has also expressed their opposition towards lifting the cell phone ban.
"I don't fault the FCC for finding that these calls could be permissible, but I'm thankful that Chairman Shuster and his committee have stepped in to ponder the question of whether allowing them would actually benefit the travel experience,” Dow stated. “In an age of so much contention in Congress, I'm hoping this measure moves quickly and serves as a reminder that our lawmakers can still move decisively to improve our quality of life in this small but meaningful way. This is one instance where it has been a pleasure to watch the legislative process at work”
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