Why is it acceptable to use an Aircell phone while airborne when I just read that the FCC states that I can ?
FCC orders DA 98-2590 and FCC 00-188 addressed this. The FCC concluded, “Upon review of the extensive record in this proceeding, we are persuaded that Aircell has sufficiently shown that unique circumstances exist which justify a limited waiver of section 22.925 and that a strict application of the Commissioner’s rule prohibiting the airborne use of cellular telephones would be contrary to public interest.” A document appendix adds (paraphrased) that airborne terminals must be designed such that they don’t interfere with other adjacent terrestrial cellular systems. At this time, the Aircell system is the only airborne cellular system – operating in the cellular frequency band – that has been demonstrated to the FCC to fulfill this requirement.
