As the Federal Communications Commission wrestles this week with the question of mobile phone use on airliners, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx stepped into the debate, saying it’s a consumer-protection matter that his department will address.
He said the DOT will “begin a process that will look at the possibility of banning these in-flight calls,” and will give the public a “significant opportunity” to comment.
In a statement, Foxx said, “Over the past few weeks, we have heard of concerns raised by airlines, travelers, flight attendants, members of Congress and others who are all troubled over the idea of passengers talking on cell phones in flight — and I am concerned about this possibility as well. As the FCC has said before, their sole role on this issue is to examine the technical feasibility of the use of mobile devices in flight.”
He added that the DOT’s role, “as part of our Aviation Consumer Protection Authority, is to determine if allowing these calls is fair to consumers.”