The HANG-UP Act
Yes folks, our esteemed politicians are hard at work on the critical issues of the day. Especially in the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee.
HANG-UP is the "Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace" Act. It was given preliminary approval earlier this month and is now on its way to a vote in the full House.
It seems that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is no longer opposed to cellphone use in airplanes. Technology has removed concerns about safety. And passengers are no longer as adamantly opposed to listening to their seat mate's one-sided conversations as they used to be. Furthermore, several airlines have announced that WiFi will be available in a few months so folks can use their laptops to access the internet in flight.
Airlines, of course, ever on the alert for another profit center, see an opportunity here. There is talk of setting aside a quiet or cellphone-free zone on airplanes, much like the smoking sections of old. And whaddya bet, charging a fee for a quiet seat?
Anyway, evidently in response to the handwriting on the wall, the HANG-UP act would set some rules. It would allow text messaging and Internet use on cellophones but ban voice communications.
"The airplane cabin today is a toxic combination of stressed out, exhausted people, some of whom were drinking for four hours in the airport because their plane was delayed. And you interject into that a one-sided conversation at 30,000 feet, I think for the most part you're asking for trouble," said Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition in Radnor Pa.
Instead of wringing their hands over cellphone conversations in airplanes, what other issues might our esteemed politicians on the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee be addressing?
HOW ABOUT INADEQUATE AIRPORTS, A WOEFULLY OUTDATED AND UNDERFUNDED AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM AND A BANKRUPT AIRLINE INDUSTRY?
Sorry - I didn't mean to shout.
But what on earth (or space) do cell phones have to do with infrastructure?
HANG-UP is the "Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace" Act. It was given preliminary approval earlier this month and is now on its way to a vote in the full House.
It seems that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is no longer opposed to cellphone use in airplanes. Technology has removed concerns about safety. And passengers are no longer as adamantly opposed to listening to their seat mate's one-sided conversations as they used to be. Furthermore, several airlines have announced that WiFi will be available in a few months so folks can use their laptops to access the internet in flight.
Airlines, of course, ever on the alert for another profit center, see an opportunity here. There is talk of setting aside a quiet or cellphone-free zone on airplanes, much like the smoking sections of old. And whaddya bet, charging a fee for a quiet seat?
Anyway, evidently in response to the handwriting on the wall, the HANG-UP act would set some rules. It would allow text messaging and Internet use on cellophones but ban voice communications.
"The airplane cabin today is a toxic combination of stressed out, exhausted people, some of whom were drinking for four hours in the airport because their plane was delayed. And you interject into that a one-sided conversation at 30,000 feet, I think for the most part you're asking for trouble," said Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition in Radnor Pa.
Instead of wringing their hands over cellphone conversations in airplanes, what other issues might our esteemed politicians on the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee be addressing?
HOW ABOUT INADEQUATE AIRPORTS, A WOEFULLY OUTDATED AND UNDERFUNDED AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM AND A BANKRUPT AIRLINE INDUSTRY?
Sorry - I didn't mean to shout.
But what on earth (or space) do cell phones have to do with infrastructure?
posted by Lady Skywriter at
1:01 PM
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