FCC thinks that in-flight cell phone bans are dumb

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski on Friday called the Federal Aviation Administration’s policy on in-flight electronics use into question, advocating that the agency allow for greater use of those devices during flights.

In a letter from Genachowski to FAA administrator Michael Huerta unearthed by The Hill, the FCC boss was plainspoken and direct in his feelings on the matter.

[succsess_box]”This review comes at a time of tremendous innovation, as mobile devices are increasingly interwoven in our daily lives,” Genachowski wrote. “They empower people to stay informed and connected with friends and family, and they enable both large and small businesses to be more productive and efficient, helping drive economic growth and boost U.S. competitiveness.”[/succsess_box]

20 years of test haven’t proved that mobile phones can cause can interference in air craft,but passengers are still not allowed to use in planes.
In August, the FAA released a study on the in-flight use of cell phones — devices which operate on the same frequency as navigational aircraft equipment — in multiple European countries, and no direct incidents of interference were found.
FAA does not want to spend the money on testing each particular electronic device in the air and on the ground to ensure that interference won’t be an issue.
No one is calling for an overnight policy change on in-flight cell phone usage (though Genachowski argues it needs to be allowed sooner than later). Yet it’s unclear why gadgets that don’t transmit signals continue to be banned.