FCC to Auction Airwaves for Inflight Internet

maotx writes "The FCC is set to auction off existing licensed frequencies from Verizon on May 10 to provide communication services such as high-speed Internet to U.S. air travelers. Verizon is the current licensee of the range for their onboard phones found on most commercial jets. The auction will force Verizon to use the 1MHz range. FCC Commissioner Michael Copps fears that such an auction could allow a single provider to have a monopoly that could prey on consumers. The FCC is also weighing whether to allow consumers to use their own cell phones on planes."

Comments

Re:Yeah but will we be able to use our cell phones

[dlt074]

i live in a state(oregon) that thinks i'm too stupid to pump my own gas you insensitive clod!

Cell free Nirvana

[ttelrocj]

I for one am against the usage of individual cell phones on flights. There aren't many areas now that you can't hear some idiot talking entirely too loudly about some worthless subject, but at least you can usually walk away from them. What if now that jerk is suddenly ten or twenty jerks yapping all around you in a confined space for several hours?

When do we reach that point when the public is too wired? It's one thing to be a techie and enjoy technology for the pure love of the game. You might pay top dollar to be bleeding edge and capitalize on the next-great-thing, but you have to work at that. There are no free lunches on the edge. But when Joe Consumer has that same power of connectedness, at his simple beck and call without having to "work" for it, don't you think it will get really annoying?

Broadband on a flight would be pretty cool, though.

Cellphones on planes

[nexcomlink]

I do not understand why I have to pay about 599 round trip ticket from Atlanta to Sacremento while having some guy or woman talking on there phone during the entire flight. It seems rather childish that you someone like you should ruin the ride for others because you feel the need to talk. Why not just use a laptop with a internet connection to send email instead? You know it's good every once and a while to let go of the phone even if you are conducting business it's nice to not have that phone ring till you reach your destination and gives you some time to relax or catch up on some work on your laptop. People should show some respect to those around them before even thinking to start talking out loud over the phone.

Re:Hoaxes

[whoever57]

Last year, I sat on a flight next to a commercial pilot (he flew for American Eagle) -- he knowingly left his cellphone turned on throughout the entire flight (including takeoff and landing) . So I guess at least some flight crew are not too bothered about cellphones.

Re:Interferance?

[malraid]

I've read that one of the biggest problems of cell phones in airplanes is that you are in line of sight to many towers at once, and can therefore cause congestion for the people on the ground.

Can you say broadband in the plane??

[firebeaker]

http://www.evdoinfo.com/The_News/Latest_News/Veriz on_Airfone_to_Offer_Inflight_Wireless_Broadband_20 051212646/

Re:

[geekoid]

They can interfere with the Autopilot.

Basically some phones slip away from spec due to poor design, or low quality companents. That is why it is only some phones, sometimes.

Granted, that information is 5 years old, so I have no idea how often it happens with new cell phones.

OTOH, my speakers on my cmopeter make a ticking noise just befor I get a call, or whenever the phone has some initial contact with the tower. I ahve no idea why, but if it is messing up a speakers then it is concievable that it interferes with the 400MHz wiring in a plane.

Re:

[AeroIllini]

Ever noticed the slightly sour A flat note that comes from the intercom when the stewardess is giving the pre-flight "use your seat cushion for floatation" speech?

Oh, God I hate that. Why, WHY couldn't Boeing have gone with a power system that operated at 440Hz?!

I kid, I kid. But seriously, one tiny little cell phone is likely not going to interfere with the avionics, because of all the EMI (ElectroMagnetic Interference) certification that goes on. However, since the FAA can't possibly certify every cell phone that flies (and they are a little twitchy about flying any piece of equipment that isn't certified) they simply make blanket statements like "all cell phones must be turned off."

Better safe than sorry, I say. And if a little fib about how electronics can affect the avionics keeps people from yakking while I'm trying to take a very reasonable nap at 35,000 ft., then so be it.