As if air travel wasn't relaxing enough (via Fark):
Passengers taking to the skies for U.S. flights could be checking e-mail and surfing the Web through high-speed Internet connections in a couple of years. And the day when travelers can chat away on cell phones while in flight might not be far behind.
The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday approved technology giving airlines what could be a cheaper option to provide Internet connections. The commissioners also voted to solicit public comment about ending the ban on in-flight use of cell phones.
Give me scat munching at 20,000 feet or give me death.
I suspect a lot of the public comment will be along the lines of, "Huzzah: crying babies, misbehaving children, a beverage cart banging my shoulder every 20 minutes, and now the aromatic gentleman sitting next to me with shingles and the wet cough can loudly discuss his plans for spaying the dog with his wife. Are you going to issue handguns along with the peanuts?"
Left undecided by the FCC was how many companies would be allowed, through an auction, to offer the service. Verizon Airfone, which is the only company that offers seatback phone service, maintains that letting one company handle the service would ensure the best quality.
That's the funniest thing I've heard all day.
The FCC is concerned that cell phone use in an airplane might interfere with cell phone use on the ground. It will start taking public comment on the issue in early 2005, and a decision could be made within a year.
"The ability to communicate is a vital one, but good cell phone etiquette is also essential," FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said. "Our job is to see if this is possible and then let consumers work out the etiquette."
No wait, that's the funniest thing I've heard all day (and I have SATELLITE RADIO). I already hate to fly, and not in a "sweet jesus the wings are going to fall off" or "there's a gremlin tearing apart the engine" kind of way, but because I'm not what you'd call a people person. I'd rather drive halfway across the country than sit for an hour in an airport, sit three hours on a plane listening to Taylor and Jordan compare hair extensions, then stand 45 minutes waiting to see if the baggage handlers managed to punch another hole in my suitcase.
The only exception to this will be the day that cell phone usage is allowed on plane. I want to be on one of those flights, just so I can jump up, phone in hand, while the attendants are taking drink orders, and yell, "Let's roll!"
I was thrilled to read this post on Crooked Timber announcing that the FCC has voted to allow wireless Internet access on airplanes. The more I travel, the more I've been lusting for this very feature. I'll be able to get more work done, entertain mys......
| --Posted to roman candles on Dec 16, 2004 10:35 AM:. |
Pete, are you an XM or Sirius man? If XM, spring the two extra bucks a month for the Opie and Anthony channel. Better (much) than Stern, plus they have a constant flow of top-notch comedians in the studio.
Sirius, but Eddie Izzard was on their uncensored comedy channel today, so that sort of makes up for it.
LOL, Pete! Ya know, the train's looking better and better.