FCC Chairman Pai wants to continue disallowing cellphone use on airplanes

WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission said Monday he is proposing to end a 2013 regulatory proceeding that had sought to lift the ban on mobile phones on U.S. airlines.

The FCC had said in 2013 it would consider allowing air travelers to make mobile phone calls, but never finalized it.

“I stand with airline pilots, flight attendants, and Americas flying public against the FCCs ill-conceived 2013 plan to allow people to make cellphone calls on planes. I do not believe that moving forward with this plan is in the public interest,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement.

Pai’s statement goes against a much-maligned plan, which was proposed after then-FCC chair Tom Wheeler said there is “no technical reason” to bar the use of mobile devices on planes. However, critics, including then-Transporation Secretary Anthony Foxx, noted the annoyance that phone conversations might pose to other passengers. Indeed, more than 8,000 people weighed-in on the topic, voicing to the Department of Transportation their opposition of allowing voice calls on planes.

The in-flight experience is a key part of boosting airline satisfaction for consumers, according to J.D. Power. Consumer satisfaction with North American airlines hit a 10-year high last year, J.D. Power said. But in-flight services were one of the lowest-scoring factors in the survey.

Shares of in-flight WiFi provider Gogo rose more than 1.5 percent on Monday.