Can You Hear Me Now? Nope

If you were looking forward to talking on your cell phone while flying onboard a commercial airliner, the Federal Communications Commission has some bad news for you. You'll have to wait until you're back on the ground... driving in your car, or sitting in a crowded movie theater.

Confirming earlier reports the FCC was leaning in that direction, on Tuesday the agency officially turned a deaf ear to allowing airline passengers to use their cell phones while inflight. The decision follows over two years of deliberations on the issue, reports The Associated Press, dating back to December 2004.

As Aero-News reported last month, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin asked his fellow commissioners to keep the ban in place, after cell phone provider companies expressed fears airborne cell signals would jam networks on the ground. There were also concerns cellular phones -- as well as other personal electronic devices, such as PDAs and laptop computers -- would cause interference with onboard electronics.

Several passengers also wrote the commission expressing their reservations about the proposal... including one Washington woman who wrote "air travel is painful enough without having to listen to one or more cell phone conversations while you're a captive audience."

In its order, the FCC states there was "insufficient technical information" on whether airborne cell signals would cause high interference on the ground.

FMI: www.fcc.gov