U. S. Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) has signed onto a letter urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prevent cell phone conversations on planes above 10,000 feet.
“Airline passengers holding cell phone conversations may not only cause an unpleasant travel environment, but could potentially pose safety risks, as someone on a cell phone is more likely to miss important crew member instructions,” Joyce said. “I’m all for the use of emails, text messages or Internet browsing, but the public’s traveling environment and safety will improve with the ban of phone conversations.”
On Dec. 12, the FCC will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise current rules governing mobile wireless services on airplanes.
Joyce said he supports new options for airline passengers to safely use wireless data for non-voice services such as text messaging, emails and Internet browsing, but remains opposed to the use of cellular voice services during flights.
He is also a co-sponsor of the Prohibiting In-Flight Voice Communications on Mobile Wireless Devices Act of 2013, introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster.