The Federal Communications Commission blocked the use of cellphones in airplanes above 10,000 feet in a decision Monday that adheres to safety concerns from pilots and flight attendants.
In an order issued this month, ahead of the incoming Biden administration, the FCC put an end to a 2013 proceeding to explore whether the agency should change rules that prevent passengers from making in-flight calls in a bid to consider whether such regulation was unnecessary and overbearing.
“There is strong opposition to the Commission’s proposals from many commenters in this proceeding, including our nation’s airline pilots and flight attendants, who argue that it ‘fail[s] to address significant safety and national security concerns,'” the FCC said in the order that was adopted on Nov. 24 and released three days later. “A number of commenters argue that the results of international studies and operations may not adequately reflect whether onboard mobile operations can be safely permitted in the United States, and that rigorous technical studies based on U.S.-specific standards remain necessary. And, although there is some support for expanding access from a variety of entities, commenters vary dramatically as to approach.”
“We find that, given the state of the record, it would not serve the public interest or be a wise use of the agency’s limited resources to continue to pursue this rulemaking proceeding as contemplated in the above-captioned docket,” the FCC order added.
This puts an end to an FCC proposed rule-making in 2013, when then-FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat, advocated for a process to “solicit input” from “all interested parties” and not a “final decision.” Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel, both Democrats, concurred with Wheeler’s vote. Republican Commissioners Ajit Pai and Michael O’Rielly dissented.
Pai, who succeeded Wheeler as chairman under the Trump administration (and is set to step down on Inauguration Day), spoke about ending the proceeding in 2017.
“I stand with airline pilots, flight attendants, and America’s flying public against the FCC’s ill-conceived 2013 plan to allow people to make cellphone calls on planes. I do not believe that moving forward with this plan is in the public interest,” Pai said in a statement at the time. “Taking it off the table permanently will be a victory for Americans across the country who, like me, value a moment of quiet at 30,000 feet.”
When the commission moved forward with the proceeding in 2013, Wheeler said then that he did not “want the person in the seat next to me yapping at 35,000 feet any more than anyone else,” but added that the rule change would have been a “textbook opportunity to do something about eliminating an unnecessary regulation of the FCC and letting the marketplace function.”
Some domestic airlines offer WiFi services on their flights to give customers the ability to stream videos, message others, and use the internet.
