Skip to main content

In-flight cell phone calls may get banned by US gov’t

cell phone airplane etiquette
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Even though the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed lifting the ban on in-flight cell phone use, it looks like the Department of Transportation (DOT) is attempting to put a halt on that, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

To be released in December, a “notice of proposed rulemaking” being developed by the DOT will state the department’s objections to making and receiving in-flight cell phone calls. Public feedback on the proposal would be allowed until February of next year before a final ruling is made.

Recommended Videos

According to the report, regulators are focused on the effects of making phone calls rather than texting or data use. On the other hand, International Air Transport Association general counsel Jeffrey Shane says airlines believe the DOT is overstepping its boundaries and that it should allow airlines to make that decision for themselves.

“Airlines aren’t clamoring to allow mobile-phone use during flight, and some have already said they’d prohibit it on their own flights,” said Shane. Even so, according to Shane, some airlines might try to find some way to circumvent that prohibition, such as in-flight phone booths or quiet zones.

Even though the proposal won’t be made until this December, some airlines have already prohibited in-flight calling. Delta banned cellular and Internet-based (VoIP) in-flight calls, while JetBlue says it will enforce its VoIP ban.

Of course, if you really want to chat away at 40,000 feet, you could always just rent your own airplane.

Williams Pelegrin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Williams is an avid New York Yankees fan, speaks Spanish, resides in Colorado, and has an affinity for Frosted Flakes. Send…
The iPhone 16 Pro Max may get a very important battery upgrade
An iPhone 15 Pro Max laying face-down outside, showing the Natural Titanium color.

iPhone 16 dummy models Sonny Dickson / X

The iPhone 16 still has many months to go before its anticipated announcement in the fall, but we’ve already gotten a slew of rumors, leaks, and speculation about its specs and capabilities. One of the latest rumors about the iPhone 16 Pro Max comes from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and it regards a new battery Apple is putting into the device.

Read more
How to get new emojis on your iPhone or Android device
Emoji reactions on Google Messages running on OnePlus 11.

Text messaging has quickly become the default form of communication on smartphones. Sure, you can give your buddy a call to update them on your plans for the weekend, but it's not quite as quick and streamlined as a simple text. And combined with the ever-growing library of emojis available on iPhone and Android, it's easier than ever to ensure your tone and true meaning are received loud and clear by your recipient.

Read more
The iPhone 17 may get a display upgrade I’ve waited years for
Someone holding an iPhone 14 with the display turned on.

No, you didn't read the headline incorrectly. Although we expect Apple to release the iPhone 16 series later this year, there's already a new rumor about the 2025 iPhone 17 — and it's a potentially big one.

Instant Digital, who is known for leaking iPhone information, recently posted a new iPhone 17 rumor on the Chinese social network Weibo claiming that Apple has developed a new display technology for the iPhone 17. Specifically, it's one that could greatly reduce reflections and scratches.

Read more