Originally published July 2 2005
U.S. newspapers report public's fears for cell phone use in airplanes
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
As the Federal Communications Commission considers lifting the ban on using cell phones in airplanes, the Washington Post printed excerpts from a number of U.S. newspapers that interviewed members of the public who feel lifting the ban opens the door for irritating noise and subsequent passenger stress.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, more than 7,700 e-mails and letters have landed on the comments tarmac since the commission started reevaluating the 14-year-old ban in December.
It was passed because of concerns that the signals emitted by cell phones and other electronic devices interfere with the transmissions used to guide takeoffs and landings.
The FCC now believes that this might not be the case.
It's not that most passengers enjoy spending several hours rocketing through the sky at 37,000 feet in a steel tube that doubles as a germ incubator.
Not even the screaming babies, the close talkers or the inconsiderate people who tilt their seats into kneecaps seem to add to the pleasure.
We have been conditioned to take all that in stride, even if it produces emotions akin to road rage.
The flight attendant had to ask him to quit using the phone.
Should cell use during flight be allowed, we had all better be prepared for a whole lot of air rage going on."
Flight attendant Dorothy Bell predicted that if the FCC allowed phones for emergency use, someone eventually would expand the definition of the word: "Some self-important businessman has an 'emergency' at work and has to get on the ground immediately.
That will happen if the FCC allows cell phone usage during flights."
One noteworthy comment came from someone who described himself as a businessman: "People do not realize that they may be sharing proprietary information during their calls, which can be easily heard by others.
Susan Gately, writing from Pembroke, Mass., said cell phone use in the cabin would "not only increase tension among passengers, it will compromise flight attendants' ability to maintain order in an emergency.
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