BILL WOULD PUT FCC BAN ON IN-FLIGHT CALLS ONTO LAW BOOKS

摘要

Cellphone use on commercial airplanes would be banned under HR- 5788, which the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved last week. The bill would codify an FCC ban, which Chairman Kevin Martin told House appropriators in April he had no intention of lifting. A ban in Europe is being lifted, and some groups want to see that happens in the U.S., a committee spokesman said. The bill would apply only to voice communications and wouldn't require airlines to keep barring Internet access, e-mail or text messaging in flight. As airlines begin offering broadband access aboard aircraft, concern has arisen that passengers could make VoIP calls, said Committee Chairman James Oberstar of Minnesota. "This could create a severe distraction to airline passengers and crew alike," he said. The bill goes to the House, set to recess Friday until Sept. 8.