Bill wouldn’t limit Internet usage, e-mail or text messages

Peter DeFazio thinks airline passengers have enough problems and don’t need to be bothered by cell phone chatter as well.

The 4th District congressman, a Democrat, and other senior members of the House transportation committee introduced a bill Tuesday to prohibit talking on cell phones during flight.

They call it the HANG UP Act, for Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace Act.

To prevent interference with navigation, airlines now prohibit cell phone use while planes are in the air, but that restriction may be lifted. The European Union has announced it will allow airplane passengers to talk on cell phones, and U.S. airlines are experimenting with Internet access during flight.

“The public doesn’t want to be subjected to people talking on their cell phones on an already over-packed airplane,” said DeFazio, who frequently flies back and forth between Oregon and Washington. “However, with Internet access just around the corner on U.S. flights, it won’t be long before the ban on voice communications on in-flight planes is lifted. Our bill ... would ensure that financially strapped airlines don’t drive us towards this noisome disruption in search of further revenue.”

The legislation prohibits voice communications in flight, but passengers would still be able to access the Internet, e-mail and send text messages as these technologies become available.

In-flight voice use of cell phones is overwhelmingly opposed by consumers, according to DeFazio and the others. Sixty-three percent of those responding to a poll sponsored by the Association of Flight Attendants and the National Consumers League were against it. Just 21 percent favored removing restrictions on using cell phones in flight.

“The free market wasn’t adequate to regulate smoking on planes and it won’t be sufficient to regulate cell phones either,” DeFazio said. “I am pleased that we are taking steps to stop this disruption before it becomes an issue for American consumers.”

The other sponsors of the bill are Reps. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., John Duncan, R-Tenn., and Thomas Petri, R-Wis.

Democrat-Herald

DH Reader Comments

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Brian_ wrote on Apr 18, 2008 1:56 PM: " Wait a minute here - "The free market wasn't adequate" because you didn't get the result you wanted?! Seems to me the free market worked QUITE well. "

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