Mxsmanic wrote:
pittss1c writes:

I know there are regs against cellphone usage in aircraft.

Note that that are FCC regulations, not FAA regulations.

Only partially correct. There are two issues.
The FAA has rules that cover all electronic devices. It requires
the operator to determine they are acceptable (with certain blanket
exceptions).

The FCC has a rule against airborne cell phone use ONLY for the
800 MHz AMPS band. This was primarily established to protect
the systems from interference. Since nobody is really using
analog cellular much anymore (the FCC no longer requires the
carriers in the 800 MHz band to provide any analog compatility)
the law is largely obsolete.

The FCC is
considering lifting them under intense commercial pressure to allow
cellphone use aloft, even though most air travellers are apparently
opposed to the idea of lifting the ban.

Actually, the FAA is getting a lot of heat to allow it. Unfortunately,
many of the digital services (like GSM) just don't work at altitude.
In the old analog days not that long ago (hence the guys on flight 93)
it did work, but it chewed up a lot of system capacity.

The FAA allows airlines and pilots (of GA aircraft) to ban the use of
electronic devices that may interfere with the safety of the flight,

More specifically it REQURIES THEM TO FORBID THEM.

but it doesn't specifically forbid or allow individual items, with a
handful of exceptions.

Actually, there is serious industry pressure to add cell phones to the
list of exemptions.