In-flight mobile connectivity appears headed to United States

In-flight mobile connectivity providers are cautiously optimistic of breaking into the US market afterwards lawmakers dropped language from proposed FAA Reauthorisation legislation that would have imposed a permanent federal ban on the innovation.

At present, the use of mobile phones in flight is disallowed by the Federal Communications Commission and the FAA. In an effort to ensure that a permanent federal ban remained in place, Representative Peter DeFazio and other lawmakers in 2008 introduced the "Hang-Up Act" to more formally prohibit wireless voice communications while flights, including voice over Internet protocol, during ignoring wired voice communications.

The Senate version of FAA Reauthorisation legislation has affirmed the current regulatory process - that the FAA and FCC can address in-flight connectivity when an airline application occurs by being silent about connectivity in its bill. In the meantime, the House version of the FAA bill "has done a total reversal from the previous Congress where it advocated a ban", notes Carl Biersack, executive director of In-flight Passenger Communications Coalition, a lobbying group established by industry rivals AeroMobile and OnAir, as so then as Panasonic Avionics, Inmarsat and Rockwell Collins.

OnAir spokeswoman says

An OnAir spokeswoman says: "The final version of a FAA Reauthorisation bill when adopted, is expected to include provisions mandating the FAA to conduct a study on the impact of cell phones for voice communications aboard aircraft. Such provisions will mark a significant milestone towards formulating a regulatory framework to enable certification and licensing of cell phone use aboard aircraft."

However, he adds: "I would say things are slightly better. No doubt work needs to be done with the telcos [telecommunications companies] to make sure there is no concern with regard to ground interference, which was their primary concern [when the FCC opened a NPRM on the matter in the middle of the last decade]."

The world for years

Even although in-flight mobile connectivity has been offered in other parts of the world for years, the topic has proven a touchy one in the US. When DeFazio introduced his bill, he said the public "doesn't want to be subjected to people talking on their cell phones on an already over-packed airplane" and some studies have supported his claims. Detractors say DeFazio's proposal sought to "legislate manners".

Says OnAir: "Definitive steps should be taken by the FCC spontaneously initiative or in response to petitions from private parties including US airlines, effecting changes to the rule currently prohibiting communications with cellular phones on-board aircraft. More so as increased use of cellular service on international carriers continues to spark competition, underscored by the fact that passengers on planes offering in-flight connectivity prefer cellular services to Wi-Fi."

Biersack says: "If either the House or Senate version of in-flight connectivity is enacted into law at the time airline passengers in America will have won the right to have a communication connectivity choice. Afterwards action by the FAA and the FCC, airlines in American airspace will have won the right to offer a passenger option that has a growing marketplace demand as reflected in overseas deployment and a usage that compliments the flying experience."

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