The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to allow making mobile phone calls during air flights. The proposal was made as the current guidelines are considered outdated.
For a long time, FCC has banned usage of cellular phones during flights because it might suspend connections in cellular towers on land.
In 2004, a suggestion to lift the usage of cell phone ban was considered, but it was discarded three years later because at that moment "technical information provided ... was insufficient to determine whether in-flight use of wireless devices on aircraft could cause harmful interference to wireless networks on the ground" .
In 2012, a study was carried out by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The researchers were able to collect information about cellphone use during in-flights in 11 countries. They found that there were no confirmed occurrences of cell phones affecting flight safety on plane with on-board cellular telephone base stations.
Considering the result of the study and what the plane passengers want in general, FCC has come up with a new proposal.
The proposal suggests allowing passengers to make phone calls and send text messages while 10,000 feet high in the sky, but will still be prohibited during takeoff and landing.
FCC says that through this plan, they give plane passengers similar communication privileges that other utility vehicles have.
To make this happen, airplanes have to be equipped with FAA- approved antennas.
"Modern technologies can deliver mobile services in the air safely and reliably, and the time is right to review our outdated and restrictive rules," FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said in a statement. "I look forward to working closely with my colleagues, the FAA and the airline industry on this review of new mobile opportunities for consumers."
This latest proposal will be discussed at the federal agency's December 12 meeting.
