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 "We understand that many passengers would prefer that voice calls
not be made on airplanes. I feel that way myself," chairman Tom
Wheeler said in a Friday statement.
The role of the FCC, he added, is to advise if there is a safety
issue with using phones on planes. He said there is "no technical
reason to prohibit" the use of mobile devices on planes.
The decision to allow calls will ultimately rest with the airlines,
Wheeler emphasized.
Just three weeks into his job, Wheeler struck a nerve with travelers
Thursday when he said it was time for the agency to review "our
outdated and restrictive rules" about mobile services on airplanes.
The rules have been in place for 22 years. A tentative agenda for
the FCC's Dec. 12 meeting, posted Thursday, listed the proposed
revision. It was the first the public heard of the change.
Wheeler seemingly underestimated the public outrage and media
attention that such a move would generate.
"It struck a nerve ... their phones have been ringing," said Craig
Aaron, president of Free Press, a consumer advocacy group. "It's a
lot of attention for an agency that usually doesn't get that much
attention."
By Friday afternoon, Wheeler's language was much more subdued. The
new message: "The job of the FCC with respect to this issue is
limited to issues related to communications technology."
Wheeler emphasized that "our proposal does not impose any
requirement that airlines should provide voice connectivity." And to
hammer home the point, the word "not" was underlined.
Requests for an interview were declined by his spokesman.
Prior to joining the FCC, Wheeler spent more than three decades
working in telecommunications, including stints as the head of
lobbying groups for cable TV and the wireless phone industry.
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"Yesterday, he sounded like the wireless lobbyist that he was,
advocating for a position long held by the cellular companies, which
is that people should be able to use voice on airplanes. Today, he
sounds more like someone serving the public interest," said Rep.
Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., a long-time opponent of permitting airline
passengers to make cellphone calls during flights.
Most airlines have said they would study the issue and survey their
customers. Delta Air Lines was the only carrier to outright reject
voice calls, regardless of what the FCC decides.
A petition opposing the FCC's move posted on the White House website
attracted nearly 1,250 signatures by Friday afternoon.
Posted by a self-described frequent flier from Richmond, Va., it
said: "Forcing (passengers) to listen to the inane, loud, private,
personal conversations of a stranger is perhaps the worst idea the
FCC has come up with to date ... I think the administration needs to
nip this in the bud."
[Associated
Press; SCOTT MAYEROWITZ]
Chris Rugaber and Loan
Lowy in Washington D.C. contributed to this report.
Scott Mayerowitz can be reached at
http://twitter.com/GlobeTrotScott.
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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