House And Senate Republicans Ask Huerta For Information On Cell Phone Use In Flight

Leaders of the U.S. House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over aviation have sent a letter to FAA administrator requesting a long overdue report on the results of the agency’s study on the impact of the in-flight use of cell phones for voice communications.

The letter was sent jointly by Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD) of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Penn) of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, enacted February 14, 2012, directed the FAA to report to Congress the findings of the study by November 10, 2012, as well as public reaction. Among other things, the law requires the FAA to address the impacts of cell phone use on safety, the quality of the flight experience for passengers, and flight attendants in its report.
 
Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it will consider beginning a rulemaking, which would be open to public comment, to possibly lift the ban on in-flight cell phone usage at the commission’s December 12, 2013, open meeting.

The members noted, “As the FCC considers moving forward with a Notice of Proposed Rule Making at the December 12, 2013, full commission meeting, the results of the FAA’s overdue study and report are particularly pertinent to Congress and the American public.”

FMI: Full Letter