Now that's high-speed communications

Good news and bad news from the FCC.

Federal regulators voted today to give airline passengers high-speed Internet connections while they fly.

The unanimous vote by the Federal Communications Commission means air travelers could be surfing the Web by 2006.

"If there is a theme for this meeting, it is that we want (new technologies) on the land, in the air, and on the sea" FCC Chairman Michael Powell said. "We are pushing the frontiers in order to bring the information age to all corners of the world."

The FCC also voted to solicit comments from the public about ending the ban on in-flight use of cell phones. Among the issues to consider are whether passengers want to be surrounded by cell phone conversations.

"The ability to communicate is a vital one, but good cell phone etiquette is also essential," Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said. "Our job is to see if this is possible and then let consumers work out the etiquette."

Yay high-speed Internet. Boo cell phones. I think that about covers it.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on December 15, 2004 to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | TrackBack