Cell Phones and interference

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Andrew Lippman <lip () media mit edu>
Date: June 17, 2005 12:39:32 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Cell Phones and interference


The FCC has control of most radiation, but according to my sources,  
is loath to intrude on other established rights of property and  
operations.  Yes, you can radiate in ISAM bands, but not in  
hospitals, and that will not change.  Likewise, the FAA has dominion  
over what happens in an airplane (in the US) and that will not change  
either.  If the two groups agree that the radiation will not  
interfere with a plane's operation, then you might be able to use it.

Spectrum ran an article about airborne interference a few years ago.   
Most of it comes via the windows, out to the external antennae on the  
plane.  However, of the 34,000-odd FAA notes about this, only a  
handful had been traceable to on-board use of computers or equipment  
by passengers, and only a smaller of those were double-blind tested.

You can argue that the planes ought to be sensitive to radiation that  
it is likely to encounter in the environment, but the practice of  
restricting the customers worked really well until it became  
competitively advantageous to offer 802.11, and perhaps cell phone  
use.  Funny how interference dissipates in the face of a new  
marketing plan.

Perhaps a better solution is for carriers to propose an etiquette for  
talking on the phone, typing too loudly, or breathing too heavily  
while playing a game.

andy



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