Cell Phones on Planes?

So why can’t I use my cell phone on airplanes? Would it really interfere with airplane communications, or is it just a scam to try and get me to use those stupid air phones?

The Federal Communications Commission has been examining that very same question since 2004 (though probably not quite in those terms). As you know, current regulations mandate that you turn off any wireless devices (including your phone) while the plane is in the air, but we’ve all been holding out for a change in those regulations — hoping that the organization would discover that the rules were over-cautious.

But, alas, in an order released yesterday — citing “insufficient technical information” on whether or not the phones would cause interference — the FCC officially shot down the idea by upholding current regulations.

Bummer.