Airlines can allow Wi-Fi phone calls, but only if they warn you beforehand: Proposed regulation

By Ken Shepherd - The Washington Times - Friday, December 9, 2016

A proposed regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation would require an airline to disclose to passengers prior to purchasing airfare that the carrier’s flights allow in-flight telephone calls.

“Currently, the Federal Communications Commission’s rules prohibit the use of mobile devices on certain radio frequencies onboard aircraft, including for voice calls,” the DOT noted in a Dec. 8 news release. “However, the existing Federal Communications Commission rules do not cover WiFi [sic] and other means by which it may become possible to make voice calls.”

According to CNet.com, all four major U.S. cellular-service providers offer Wi-Fi calling on at least some of their popular smartphones. Of course, even smartphone users without Wi-Fi telephone service theoretically can carry on lengthy voice conversations via apps like Skype and Facebook Messenger.

The DOT diplomatically observed that improving onboard communications technology on commercial airlines may lead “to a higher prevalence of voice calls and a greater risk of passenger harm.”

Accordingly, the federal agency’s proposal for regulation moving forward is that “disclosure about voice calls being permitted on a flight [will be] required from the beginning of the process,” that is “the first time that flight is offered or identified to a consumer.”

“No disclosure is required if the flight does not allow voice calls,” added the news release.

Like other pending regulations, however, the public is invited to weigh in before it’s officially on the books, if at all.

“The Department is also seeking comment on whether disclosure is sufficient or whether it should simply ban voice calls on flights within, to, or from the United States,” said the DOT, going on to instruct interested readers in how to render their opinions on the matter.

“Members of the public can comment on the NPRM at www.regulations.gov, docket number DOT-OST-2014-0002. Comments must be received within 60 days of the date the notice is published in the Federal Register.”