Government close to denying cellphone calls on airplanes

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is close to formally banning in-flight calls, according to the Wall Street Journal.

A spokeswoman for the DOT confirmed that they are developing “a notice of proposed rulemaking” to be released in December. It is expected that this would state the DOT’s objections to passengers making/receiving calls.

Assuming that the DOT issues the proposal in December, comments would then be allowed until February by anyone before a final ruling is given. Even though the DOT has loosened restrictions on phone use from gate to gate in the last year, DOT officials are still concerned about the “effects of voice calls rather than texting or other data use.”

On the other hand, Airlines content that the airline carriers should decide whether to offer cellphone service.

In December, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)  drafted a bill with Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would ban in-flight phone calls.