FCC to Allow Wireless Access on Planes

isd_glory writes "The FCC has unanimously voted to allow wireless internet connections on airplanes. If everything goes according to plans, airplanes might be offering passengers internet service by as soon as 2006. Furthermore, the FCC is also soliciting comments about the possibility of lifting the in-flight ban on cellphone use. While this could be new profit source for the cash-strapped airlines, it might also be a new way to annoy your neighbor sitting next to you."

Why does it have to be wireless?

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

Why not put a fucking cat5 jack in the back of every seat?

Utterly dumb shit.

What I want to know is...

[reynolds_john]

WTF changed!? (other than the fat contracts I'm sure the carriers have been working out)

I mean, the flight attendants lose all sense of reality if you're caught using a cell phone. I've been on a couple of flights where the flight attendant took the passenger's cell phone after seeing them take a call.

So... what's changed to make it "safe" all of a sudden?

Aisle or Window? Phoning or No Phoning?

[e9th]

How about No Cell Phone sections on flights?

Cellphone on Airplanes

[Liselle]

There are several technical reasons why cellphones are banned, don't forget. Interference with the instruments in the plane is one thing. The fact that cellphones thousands of feet in the air can "see" a whole bunch of cellphone towers at once poses a problem, too. To solve the problem, they'd probably have to have some sort of localized setup on the plane itself, which requires cooperation from the carriers (they are already arguing about how many carriers should be allowed to compete), which means cellphones on planes might happen when I'm too old to fly anyway. :D

Some overseas airlines already have internet...

[StressGuy]

Singapore Airlines for one...there are others.

I'm sure internet will be limited, at least initially, to first and business class. It might actually make it worth upgrading, especially on an international flight, so you could get some work done and collaborate in real time.

This could be good news for me in particular since I generally approve the structual engineering for mods like this for a living. Yes, I'm from the FAA and I'm here to help you ;) (well, a civilian representative of the FAA anyways).

As for cellphones, ....I'll just say I'm looking forward to reading the public comments on that one.

Save Me, FAA!

[MBCook]

I head a piece on NPR about this today. I have two thoughts.

First, I like the WiFi, that would be great. The only thing that worries me is that people will start using it for VOIP to get around any anti-cellphone regulations.

Second, the FAA has its own ban on cell phones in airplanes. So even if the FCC says it's OK (which, from a technological/interference point of view it is), the FAA can still keep it banned (like smoking is banned, for example) keeping us all sane in the air.

If the FAA doesn't save us, I suspect that portable cell-phone jammers will become VERY popular among frequent travelers. And how dangerous do you think THOSE unregulated things will be for pilots?

Re:Cellphone on Airplanes

[Niltsiar]

Actually, what you're saying isn't quite true. Most cell phone towers are actually pointing their antennas downwards, which is why many cell phone providers wont guarantee service to people living in apartments or working offices above the tenth floor, unless the building his its own cell node.

The other thing is, and this may just be the conspiracy theorist in me coming out, cell phones cause minimum interference to instruments on planes, the main reason they don't want you using your cell phone, particularly while taxi-ing and such, when your cell phone will definitely be working and have a signal, is because they want you to use their (very expensive) air phones.

Of course, with roaming in the US being so unbelievably crap compared to other places in the world (mainly Europe, although here in Australia, the cell phone coverage is generally excellent too), as well as having many different competing standards, I'll agree with you on one thing, I don't see them installing cell phone nodes in planes anytime soon.

Profit???

[cytoman]

While this could be new profit source for the cash-strapped airlines

How could this be a new profit source? By "this", do you mean the internet connections (I can see how this could get them some profit), or do you mean allowing cell phone calls (which, frankly, I can't figure out how it would be)?

Re:Save Me, FAA!

[Otter]

There was an article on /. about a college campus apartment that tried to ban wifi routers. Said wannabe-lawyer jackasses kept posting on /. "Nothing trumps the FCC! Nothing trumps the FCC!"

In fairness to the jackasses, there was a recent court ruling that set a precedent along those lines.

Re:Oh no....

[Jetson]

"Dude, dude, dude......guess where I am? Hehehe, dude, I am in a plane he he whoooooaaaa dude"

One of my air traffic controller co-workers told me a story about when the in-seat phones first appeared in coach. He and one of his buddies were on the way back from vacation and had enjoyed the in-flight refreshments a bit too much. On a whim he picked up the phone and called work. The conversation went something like:
"Hey dude! I'm on XXX123 inbound, and I think we're about 120 miles out, right?"
"Ok then, I was close. Can you do me a favour and give us a turn about 30 degrees to the right?"
"Cool! How about one to the left?"
"Excellent! Do you wanna do 360s for a while?"

At that point the passenger sitting in the row behind tapped him on the shoulder and said "I don't know who you are, but you're scaring the heck out of my wife. Can we go home now?"