As U.S. government agencies consider more aviation rule changes, the American public appears to have made up its mind when it comes to gadget use during flights.
More Americans oppose allowing voice calls during flights than are in favor of it, according to a newly released poll. The poll, conducted jointly by The Associated Press and market research firm GfK Group, found that 48% of respondents oppose allowing calls, 19% are in favor and 30% are neutral.
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last month announced it would consider ending its decades-long ban on cellphone calls during flights. In a Nov. 22 blog post, an FCC official wrote that the ban is "outdated rule," but said ultimately airlines will decide whether or not to allow calls during flights.
The FCC's announcement of a possible rule change came just weeks after the Federal Aviation Administration changed its rules, allowing airline passengers to use most electronic gadgets during all phases of flights, as long as the gadgets are in "airplane mode."
The same AP-GfK poll found that 43% of Americans favor the FAA rule change regarding gadget use, 19% oppose it and 37% are neutral.
The poll, conducted between Dec. 5 and Dec. 9, includes a sample of 1,367 adults said to be representative of the U.S. population.
The FCC will begin discussing whether or not to change its rules regarding voice calls during flights at an open meeting on Thursday.
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