Transportation Department,
The Department of Transportation (DOT or Department) is seeking comment on the effects and implications of adopting a rule to ban voice communications on passengers' mobile wireless devices on flights within, to and from the United States. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that if adopted would, among other things, revise the FCC's prohibition on the use of cellular telephones (cell phones) or other mobile wireless devices to make it possible for aircraft operators to permit passengers to make or receive calls on-board aircraft. FCC's proposal to revise its rules was prompted by the availability of new technology and would provide the benefit of expanded access to mobile wireless services on-board aircraft, including data, text and voice services. See http://www.fcc.gov/document/review-rules-wireless- services-onboard-aircraft-nprm. However, under the Department's aviation consumer protection authority, we are seeking comment on whether voice calls on aircraft constitute an unfair practice to consumers pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 41712, and/or are inconsistent with adequate air transportation pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 41702, and if so whether such calls should be banned or restricted (e.g., not allow voice calls at night time).
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary 14 CFR Part 251 [Docket No. DOT-OST-2014-0002] RIN 2105-AE30 AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT or Department) is seeking comment on the effects and implications of adopting a rule to ban voice communications on passengers' mobile wireless devices on flights within, to and from the United States. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that if adopted would, among other things, revise the FCC's prohibition on the use of cellular telephones (cell phones) or other mobile wireless devices to make it possible for aircraft operators to permit passengers to make or receive calls on-board aircraft. FCC's proposal to revise its rules was prompted by the availability of new technology and would provide the benefit of expanded access to mobile wireless services on-board aircraft, including data, text and voice services. See http://www.fcc.gov/​document/​review-rules-wireless-services-onboard-aircraft-nprm . However, under the Department's aviation consumer protection authority, we are seeking comment on whether voice calls on aircraft constitute an unfair practice to consumers pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 41712 , and/or are inconsistent with adequate air transportation pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 41702 , and if so whether such calls should be b…
Other Federal Register documents from the same docket.
Citation: 79 FR 10049
