WASHINGTON-Unless you are a technology company with a business plan calling for the use of wireless devices on airplanes, you are against the idea, according to comments filed last week with the Federal Communications Commission.
The FCC in December proposed allowing cell-phone use in airplanes while in flight. The Federal Aviation Administration must still pass off on the FCC’s final rules.
Law enforcement doesn’t like the idea because it believes that terrorists could use onboard communications to coordinate an attack.
On the other hand, Space Data Corp., which proposes using balloons to transmit the signals from aircrafts to the ground, said, “The interests of consumers, homeland security and public-safety officials are better served by increased access to communications services during flight.”
CTIA said, “No solution exists that safeguards terrestrial wireless services against interference.”
“While the industry recognizes the consumer demand for wireless service anytime, anywhere-even while airborne-we believe it is more important to ensure wireless networks on the ground, serving more than 182 million consumers, continue operating without interference,” said CTIA President Steve Largent in a separate statement. “The wireless industry remains concerned about potential interference from airborne wireless usage and until those concerns are met, we encourage the FCC to examine this issue further and obtain more information on technical solutions to terrestrial interference.”
Others do believe there are technical solutions.
The Boeing Co. wants the FCC to approve the use of pico cells onboard aircraft but not require that any onboard system be compatible with all wireless interfaces.
“Airborne picocell systems should be accessible to any wireless customer in good standing with its home provider if the customer is using equipment that is technically compatible with the airborne picocell system,” said Boeing. “As is the case with terrestrial wireless providers, however, airborne wireless service providers should not be required to implement airborne picocell systems that are compatible with all technologies and CMRS spectrum bands. Rather, market forces should be relied on to ensure widespread compatibility of airborne picocell systems with passengers’ wireless equipment.”
The Consumer Electronics Association prefers that voice communications be prohibited, but data applications be allowed.
“The use of voice communications in flight poses significant risk of disruption to travelers in the confined space of an airplane,” said CEA President Gary Shapiro in a separate statement.
The use of transmitting devices for either data or voice gets tricky, so CEA has been working with the airlines and manufacturers to see if there is a way to make it obvious if someone is transmitting. Currently transmitting devices are prohibited during flight, although electronic devices can be used after the first 10 minutes after takeoff up until 10 minutes before landing. Cell-phone use is allowed once initial taxiing on the runway after landing has occurred, but the use of combination devices, such as Blackberries or smart phones, is not allowed, said Valerie Walker, chairwoman of the safety, health and security committee of the American Flight Attendants Master Executive Council.
