Ban The Wireless Ban, Say Industry Organizations

In a letter to Congress dated May 6th, The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), CTIA-The Wireless Association, The Satellite Industry Association (SIA), TechAmerica, and The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) collectively voiced their opposition to a proposed ban on the usage of wireless telecommunications on U.S. commercial flights.

The groups joined other leading passenger rights organizations and national business associations that recently expressed concerns about the rush to ban inflight communications and the fact that it has been proposed without any formal, public input from consumers, stakeholders or experts. “Instead of eliminating the option to use wireless devices on airplanes, we believe a study is needed to determine whether there is a demand by consumers. Ultimately, we believe that customers should make the decision on whether they want to use their wireless device while traveling on airplanes,” said Jot Carpenter, Vice President, CTIA-The Wireless Association. “Many airplanes have been equipped with mobile phones for decades, and we believe the use of today’s more personal wireless technology should be thoroughly explored. We appreciate the concerns some might have, but those can be addressed through a careful and deliberate examination of in-flight demand and how such service might be offered.”

For 18 months now, 16 commercial carriers have offered inflight wireless communications services on three continents going to 36 nations in close to two hundred different city destinations on 10,000 flights. Users of inflight telecommunications services will be approaching half a million inflight users this year. “Legislation prohibiting the use of technology is as problematic as legislation mandating the use of technology,” said Michael Petricone, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs of the Consumer Electronics Association. “An outright ban slipped into an authorization bill is not warranted for a technology that is as safe and widely accepted as voice communications.”