Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has urged the FAA to lift the ban on the use of portable electronic devices during takeoff and landing in a letter addressed to FAA acting administrator Michael Huerta.
“I write to urge the FAA to enable greater use of tablets, e-readers and other portable electronic devices during flight, consistent with public safety,” Genachoswki writes.
Genachoswki also included support for the FAA’s ongoing review of the in-flight use of portable electronic devices policy in his letter to Huerta. The FAA announced in August that it planned to review the current policy in place, after reports surfaces that electronics did not cause interference with a plane’s electronics.
“The review comes at a time of tremendous innovation as mobile devices are increasingly interwoven in our daily lives,” he said.
According to Huerta, the FAA has announced specific plans to conduct a six-month review with an Aviation Rulemaking Committee comprised of the FCC, pilot and flight attendant groups, airlines and passenger associations.
“We want solid safety data to make sure tomorrow’s aircraft designs are protected from interference,” Huerta said.
