US phone regulator rules against in-flight cell phone use

Washington: US phone regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has refused to lift a ban on in-flight phone conversations because of evidence they could interfere with calls made on the ground.

Kevin J. Martin, chairman, FCC, made the decision yesterday, effectively turning down efforts to reverse a long-standing decision. What would have weighed heavily on the chairman's mind would have been arguments by a cell phone industry trade group that cell phone towers could face problems trying to process signals sent from passengers traveling high above.

Also, weighing in favour of the ban's continuation would have been the potential nuisance caused by passengers talking on phones in the cramped ambience of an aircraft cabin.

The US Federal Aviation Administration has also been studying whether calls would interfere with aircraft navigation systems, but is yet to draw any conclusions.