U.S. transportation head joins debate on in-flight calls

[Wireless News]

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/n0uXuSCjBmTZHr8Q0rgbvQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9NzU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-12-12T163420Z_1_CBRE9BB1A1M00_RTROPTP_2_USA-FCC-WHEELER.JPG (http://news.yahoo.com/u-transportation-dept-plans-rule-phones-planes-fcc-163420035--finance.html)By Alina Selyukh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Department of Transportation waded into the fray on the use of cell phones during airplane flights on Thursday, saying that his department would consider whether such calls should be banned even as the telecommunications regulator looks at the issue from the technical side. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on Thursday said the department will review whether allowing phone calls during flights "is fair to consumers" as the Federal Communications Commission is poised to begin a review of technical rules to make such phone calls possible. "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," Foxx said in a statement. "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.



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