Please Don’t Let Me Make Calls on the Plane
Today the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, having raised the idea of permitting cellular voice and text communications in airplanes (and hearing a public outcry) basically said: “Who, us?” Roger Sherman, acting chief of the FCC’s wireless telecommunications bureau, posted a blog saying that if the FCC adopts the rule, it’s really up to the airlines on whether to actually allow passengers to pass the time making voice calls with their personal phones.
But that’s like state lawmakers in Massachusetts saying its really up to the cities or towns whether to allow casinos; all they’re doing is legalizing gambling.
The FCC calls the airline ban “an outdated rule on our books that has been overtaken by advances in technology.” True. But we can already email, and that’s an appropriate way to communicate from one the last quiet spaces: airplanes. I don’t want casinos in my state, and I don’t want the guy next to me yakking all the way to LAX. And once one airline lets it happen, others will feel pressured to follow suit.
The rule will be considered on Dec. 12. Consumers can comment by calling 1-888-225-5322.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why.
And that's a problem. Figuring it out is one of the biggest scientific puzzles of our time and a crucial step towards controlling more powerful future models.
The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.
Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.
Google DeepMind’s new generative model makes Super Mario–like games from scratch
Genie learns how to control games by watching hours and hours of video. It could help train next-gen robots too.
How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets
When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.