These days it's hard to find a place where cell phone use isn't allowed. The list could get even shorter soon because air carriers are looking for ways to allow cell phone use on airplanes. If everything goes through, rude cell phone users can take their loud calls to the skies to torment everyone even more.
As it stands now, the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration both have bans on cell phone use during flight. The FCC ban is in place because cell phone calls that are made from the air have the potential to disrupt cell phone towers on the ground. The FAA banned cell phone use during flight because cell phones can interfere with navigation systems planes use.
In 2004 the FCC announced a proposal that would allow cell phone use during flight under certain conditions. The plane would be equipped with a "pico cell" which would route calls without interfering with towers on the ground. The cell would act like a small cell phone tower and would require less power and generate less interference that could affect the plane's navigation. Now, the FCC is planning on auctioning off the right to provide Internet access during flight and cell phone use might not be far behind.
So the FCC thinks if a small cell phone tower is installed in an airplane there might not be any problems making a call during flight. No networks would be interfered with and the plane would be able to navigate just fine. The problem they didn't think of is whether or not people actually want cell phones to be allowed during flight.
I've traveled by plane a few times, and so far I can say the actual flights weren't that bad. Sure, the seats are a little cramped, and the noise from the plane and the other passengers can be a bit annoying at times, but not overwhelmingly so. That said, I think if people were allowed to use cell phones during flight I would be in my own personal inferno that Dante never could have imagined.
I've found the worst part of most flights is the time waiting in the plane before takeoff and after landing. During this time, people are moving around and trying to get their luggage out of the overhead bins, and some use their cell phones. I don't like it when people use their cell phones in public places in the first place, but when I'm in the close quarters of an airplane I absolutely despise it. I don't like thinking what it would be like at 35,000 feet.
If the FCC and FAA somehow work out a way to allow cell phone use in the air, air carriers would be wise to think of a way to keep people like me away from people on their phones. The most obvious solution would be to put people who want to use their cell phones in different sections of the plane. That way, passengers would be able to make their calls, and I wouldn't have to listen to them and everyone would be happy. Unfortunately, it's unlikely it would be that easy.
In my perfect world, a new section similar to first class would be created but it would be called mobile class. People could pay more money to get a ticket for this section, and they would be allowed to use their cell phones during flight. In reality though, the air carriers will probably make a new section called the quiet section and charge people more to get away from cell phone users.
If cell phones are allowed during flight in the future, someone is going to have to pay to make everyone happy. I'm hoping air carriers will realize you shouldn't have to pay for peace and quiet.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
