Legislation Wants To Outlaw In-Flight Cell Phone UseLegislation Wants To Outlaw In-Flight Cell Phone Use

A bill introduced to Congress could ground any chance of talking on a cell phone while flying the friendly skies -- once the service is offered, that is.The HANG UP Act, proposed this week by Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), takes aim only at voice communications; passengers would be permitted to use the Internet and send text and e-mail messages. "Last year was one of the worst on record for flight cancellations, delays and lost luggage. Now is not the time to consider making the airline passenger-experience any worse, and using cellphones in-flight would do just that,? Costello said.

The legislation comes on the heels of the European Commission's approval of in-flight cell phone use, leaving it up to each airline's discretion in terms of how to offer the service. "So just like some airlines offer nothing but a sandwich and others a three-course lunch, some will enforce limitations and others will allow a free-for-all," explained a spokesman for the European Commission's telecom commissioner.RCR Wireless News, Los Angeles Times