Air-To-Ground Bars Urged Kept Until Interference Resolved
Both terrestrial wireless and airline industries raised concerns over an FCC proposal to replace or relax a ban on airborne use of 800 MHz cellular handsets and other devices. They urged the Commission to keep the ban until the devices are shown not to cause interference with terrestrial wireless services and with aviation communication and navigation systems. More comments were expected at our deadline.
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CTIA expressed concern that no solution exists to safeguard terrestrial wireless services against interference. “The wireless industry remains concerned about potential interference from airborne wireless usage and until those concerns are met, we encourage the Commission to examine this issue further and obtain more information on technical solutions to terrestrial interference,” said CTIA Pres. Steve Largent.
The Consumer Electronics Assn. (CEA) said it supports “safe and managed use” of wireless devices on airplanes: “Safety of flight is and must remain the paramount concern and focus.” CEA has developed a Recommended Practice which it said would let users and flight attendants easily determine whether a device’s wireless function is enabled. That also would let consumers use other applications on their devices when a wireless connection isn’t permitted, CEA said.
CEA said it supports limits on voice communications, as determined by individual airlines, but not on in-flight wireless data usage, including access to the Internet. “This capability would offer a highly desirable option for in-flight communications and appropriately meets the evolving demands of increasingly mobile and connected consumers,” it said. Citing 2003 data, CEA said more than 1/3 of all travelers and 60% of business travelers favored the ability to access a wireless network or the Internet while in flight. It projected that factory-to-dealer sales of handheld e-mail devices and wireless phones this year would exceed 6.6 million and 89 million units respectively: “The market for data-capable devices is growing and would likely foster consumer acceptance of the use of these wireless devices for non-voice communication aboard aircraft.”
VeriSign said it has “significant concerns” about effective implementation of network forensic and law enforcement assistance requirements, including CALEA capabilities. Such requirements are essential not only to protect on-board services, but also to “respond to the inevitable use of these services for criminal, terrorism or other unlawful purposes,” it said. Jurisdictional and legal complexities associated with on-board law enforcement also “must be remedied in the implementing architectures,” it said. VeriSign said on-board law enforcement can be effectively supported for on-board communications providers through the “Trusted Third Party” service bureau model proposed in the CALEA NPRM.
While supporting development of picocell technology, Honeywell said it objects to use of mobile phones without pico cell control, due to the risk of interference to communications, navigation and surveillance equipment. It urged the FCC to produce rules that would be supported by the FAA, which has final say over on-board operation of any device.
The Air Line Pilots Assn. (ALPA) urged the FCC to coordinate rulemaking involving airborne use of personal electronic devices (PED) with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The RTCA’s final report on technical aspects of the aircraft problems posed by 800 MHz band devices and other PEDs isn’t due until the end of 2006, and “the FAA is unlikely to make regulator changes before that point,” ALPA said: “Due to the considerable amount of research still to be conducted, ALPA believes that a unilateral FCC rulemaking at this time could be counterproductive, creating confusion for the traveling public and the media.” When the new rules are promulgated, however, ALPA said “similar wireless systems covered by FCC Part 24 (1900 MHz band) and FCC Part 90 (land mobile radio, iDEN)… also should be included in a uniform manner.”
United Airlines said it supports the FCC’s effort, as long as the Commission addresses the airline’s concerns over aircraft safety. To ensure safe use of PEDs onboard aircraft, “there must be clearly defined standards and considerable cooperation not only between airlines and the FAA, but also coordination between the FAA and the FCC,” United said. It urged the FCC to adopt further safeguards, including standardized labeling requirements, to prevent consumer confusion as to which devices are approved for airborne use. It said the FCC also should require adoption of technology that would prevent an incompatible picocell PED from seeking a connection with an external cell system.