Boeing Gets FCC Approval For Broadband Service

lba writes "Boeing's plans to offer broadband on their planes (as in this earlier /. article) gets into the next phase... BBC News has a story about them now getting FCC approval for this project. Protoypes of Connexion, as the service is called, would be installed on Lufthansa planes in about a year. Three US Airline companies canceled their support for the project last November."

Comments

Re:Finally

[Buran]

I have a sneaking suspicion that when it is implemented, it'll wind up in first class -- which most of us almost never get to use. All of the news articles I've seen so far have been implying that this will be a great revolution that will allow us all to check our AOL e-mail at 50,000 feet -- but something tells me that the only people who will get to do that will also be sipping wine and eating caviar while they do it.

However, I also have to say that I'd never expected the US airlines to back out. We Americans are the most wired country in the world, and certainly one of the most gadget-happy -- and our airlines turn their backs on this just when it's literally ready to fly?

Go figure. I have to wonder how much of a "free ride" Lufthansa is going to get now that those who the system may have been built for no longer care about it.

Re:Security Implications of GPS + Broadband?

[geekoid]

not a whole lot of sams will fire 30,000 feet in the air.
If its on landing or take off, you can see your target.

hell, I guy at the end of an airport with a rifle can bring a plane down on take off.

Re:Foreign flight requirements

[ErikTheRed]

Heh, what makes you think they won't charge $9.00/min for the broadband? I mean, these are the airlines!

Forget the internet access

[informer]

Hey boeing, forget the internet access and give me a power outlet to plug my laptop into first!