The Safety and Security in the Air Coalition...

The Safety and Security in the Air Coalition (SSAC) wants the FCC to end a rulemaking on allowing cellphone use in-flight because it fears an uptick in terrorist attacks. The coalition represents groups including the Association of Flight Attendants, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace, and the Transport Workers Union of America. SSAC officials met with Julius Knapp, chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, and other agency officials. Lifting the ban on using cellphones on flights “would greatly exacerbate the risk of successful terrorist attacks,” said an ex parte filing on the meeting, posted Monday in docket 13-301 (http://bit.ly/SL8b3O). “Lifting the ban would (i) provide a person on a flight who wishes to commit a terrorist act with the capability of communicating reliably, in real time, with accomplices on the ground, which would greatly enhance the likelihood that such attempted terrorist activity would be successful; (ii) enable cell phones to act as switches to set off Improvised Explosive Devices secreted onto airplanes; and (iii) greatly increase the risks of cyberwarfare.” In December, the FCC voted 3-2 to start a rulemaking seeking comment on expanding in-flight mobile connectivity, including voice calls on commercial flights (CD Dec 13 p1).