Tech Groups Slam In-Flight Wireless Ban
A handful of major high-tech companies wrote to House Transportation Chairman James Oberstar and ranking member John Mica on Wednesday to voice their opposition to a proposed ban on the usage of wireless telecommunications on U.S. commercial flights. The Consumer Electronics Association, CTIA-The Wireless Association, the Satellite Industry Association, Technology Association of America, and the Telecommunications Industry Association joined passenger rights and business groups that recently complained about a legislative rush to prohibit the activity as part of a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill without meaningful public input. Rather than eliminating the option of using devices on airplanes, CTIA Vice President Jot Carpenter called for a study to determine whether there is consumer demand.
Their letter was also sent to House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and ranking member Joe Barton. "Legislation prohibiting the use of technology is as problematic as legislation mandating the use of technology," CEA lobbyist Michael Petricone said. "An outright ban slipped into an authorization bill is not warranted for a technology that is as safe and widely accepted as voice communications." "An outright ban leaves too many benefits for society on the table without a serious weighing of the facts," TechAmerica lobbyist Joshua Lamel added. The groups point out that airplanes have been equipped with mobile phones for decades and for 18 months, 16 commercial carriers have offered in-flight wireless services on three continents. Those systems have been launched successfully in Europe, Asia and the Middle East and have not posed safety concerns, they wrote.
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