Alexander, Markey File Commercial Flight Courtesy Act Before FAA Reauth Bill Markup

Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., filed their Commercial Flight Courtesy Act Wednesday in a bid to direct the Department of Transportation to issue a ban on voice cellphone use on commercial flights. The bill would allow passengers to use personal electronic devices in flight for other FAA-approved uses. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai circulated a proposed order in April that would terminate a controversial 2013 proceeding that potentially would have relaxed rules on cellphone discussions on commercial flights (see 1704100066). “Passengers should not have to suffer through the conversations of others, and flight crews should not be disrupted while performing their important safety and security duties,” Markey said in a news release. “I plan to fight for this legislation to be included in the FAA reauthorization bill," which the Senate Commerce Committee is set to mark up Thursday.