The Department of Transportation (DoT) is leaning toward an outright ban on in-flight cell phone calls, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The agency plans to publish a NPRM by the end of the year that will outline its objections and open the conversation for public comments. The DoT’s focus is on calls and not texting or cellular data use.
The FCC last year started a review process focused on possibly updating rules and allowing airlines to install technology allowing customers to use cell phones on board aircraft.
Under the FCC’s proposal, it would be up to individual airlines whether cell phone use is allowed on their flights. But the FCC has made it a point to say it does not specifically endorse in-flight calls.
As the Journal’s report points out, any DoT ruling on the matter would trump the FCC’s decision. But airlines want the final decision to be left to them.
Filed Under: Industry regulations + certifications