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WELL, DON'T START DIALING JUST
YET.
TALKING ON YOUR CELL PHONE IN
FLIGHT COULD BE GROUNDED BEFORE
YOU START DIALING FORM THE FCC
VOTE 3D-2 TO CONSIDER LIFTING
ITS BAN ON IN-FLIGHT CELL USE
SUCH AS VOICE CALLS AND TEXTING.
THE COMMISSION SAYS NEW
TECHNOLOGY ELIMINATES
INTERFERENCE ON THE GROUND.
>> I DON'T WANT SOMEBODY SITTING
NEXT TO ME SAYING HI, I'M ON THE
PLANE.
>> IT ADDS TO MORE NOISE, MORE
STRESS TO THE FLIGHT.
>> Reporter: ONE COMMISSIONER
BOMBARDED WITH LETTERS FROM
OPPONENTS.
>> A THIRD WROTE SIMPLY -- NO!
THE FCC CHAIRMAN SAYS IT'S THEIR
JOB TO WORRY ABOUT TECHNOLOGY,
NOT WHAT PASSENGERS WANT.
>> I'M THE LAST PERSON IN THE
WORLD WHO WANTS TO LISTEN TO
SOMEBODY TALKING TO ME WHILE I
FLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT WE
ARE THE TECHNICAL AGENCY, AND WE
WILL MAKE THE TECHNICAL RULES
THAT REFLECT THE WAY THE NEW
TECHNOLOGY WORKS.
>> Reporter: THURSDAY, THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
SAID IT WOULD CONSIDER POSSIBLY
BANNING THE IN-FLIGHT CALLS, THE
US DOT'S ROLE IS DETERMINE IF
ALLOWING THESE CALLS IS FAIR FOR
CONSUMERS ANTHONY FOX SAID IN A
STATEMENT.
IN CONGRESS A NEW SENATE BILL
ALSO AIMS TO BAN THE CALLS.
IT JOINS REPUBLICAN BILL
SCHUSTER'S HOUSE PROPOSAL.
>> THESE AIRPLANES ARE CONFINED,
NOISY ALREADY.
TO HAVE DOZENS OF PHONE CALLS
GOING ON WHILE IN FLIGHT I THINK
IS ANNOYING TO THE TRAVELS
PUBLIC AND I THINK IT'S
UNNECESSARY.
>> Reporter: BUT ON AIR, WHICH
PROVIDES CELL SERVICE ON PLANES
AROUND THE WORLD SAID PASSENGERS
HAVEN'T COMPLAINED.
MOST USERS TEXT, AND THE 3 TO $4
A MINUTE COST KEEPS CALLS SHORT.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, EITHER WAY THIS IS A LONG
PROCESS.
IT WILL BE MONTHS BEFORE THE FCC
COULD ACTUALLY LIFT ITS BAN, AND
IT WOULD BE MONTHS BEFORE THE
FAA TO VOTE TO IMPOSE A BAN.
OF COURSE, WOLF, WE SHOULD