Do you think NBC broke FAA regulations?

[hardcorestitch]

NBC's TODAY show was promoting United's new Starlink service. One of NBC's reporters was talking to the New York studio. Under FAA rules, you're not allowed to talk on the phone or make internet based video calls. However, this live broadcast took place on an internet connected device. Does anyone think this NBC anchor should be fined and otherwise given other sanctions for this?

 

[Marrila]

Do you know whether or not the reporter had been given special authorizations?

 

[hardcorestitch]

That hasn’t been known yet.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

These companies generally dot their i's and cross their t's so I doubt they did anything wrong.

You're trying to make news where there is none.

 

[Brian rhymes with dyin]

wow!

 

[BrianL]

This is a total puff peice and basically advertising for the United Airlines and Starlink.

 

[LuvOrlando]

This would be a ridiculous thing to go after with tax dollars, I'm reasonably certain the rule was created to prevent bad actors from communicating.

 

[tvguy]

NBC's TODAY show was promoting United's new Starlink service. One of NBC's reporters was talking to the New York studio. Under FAA rules, you're not allowed to talk on the phone or make internet based video calls. However, this live broadcast took place on an internet connected device. Does anyone think this NBC anchor should be fined and otherwise given other sanctions for this?

Chartered flight. That law does not apply.

 

[kdonnel]

This would be a ridiculous thing to go after with tax dollars, I'm reasonably certain the rule was created to prevent bad actors from communicating.

I think the rule is left over from the era where voice calls would have been cellular and they were not certain if cellular signals would interfere with the airplane systems.

Like many laws/rules/policies it remains and is now being generically applied to other voice calling features.

I know a lot of travelers that prefer it remain a rule so they don't have to sit next to someone carrying on a phone conversation next to them for 5 hours on the plane.

 

[sam_gordon]

Under FAA rules, you're not allowed to talk on the phone or make internet based video calls.

What are you basing that on? While airlines tell you you can't make video/voice calls, I think thats an airline rule, not an FAA one.

Heck, I remember phones wired to seats that you were allowed to make calls on (for a hefty fee of course).

 

[hardcorestitch]

What are you basing that on? While airlines tell you you can't make video/voice calls, I think thats an airline rule, not an FAA one.

Heck, I remember phones wired to seats that you were allowed to make calls on (for a hefty fee of course).

The phones attached back then were on separate frequencies that didn’t interfere with aircraft navigation. Cellular service does. Additionally security reasons are why they banned it.

 

[sam_gordon]

The phones attached back then were on separate frequencies that didn’t interfere with aircraft navigation. Cellular service does. Additionally security reasons are why they banned it.

But if NBC uses Starlink, that's not cellular service.

BTW, 47 CFR 22.925 is the law that prevents cellular use in the air.

49 USC 41725 (a)(1) says you can't make voice calls in flight in scheduled passenger interstate or intrastate air transportation

The odds of that shot being a "scheduled passenger" flight are slim to none. So to answer your OP, "no, they shouldn't be fined because they didn't break a law."

 

[Allison]

Of course not.

 

[_19disnA]

Nope, they did nothing wrong.

He was using the internet connection provided by the airline. All airlines I am aware of still ask you to turn your cell phone to off or airplane mode when in the air. That concern related to possible inference with the navigation or other electronic equipment. This has been in place for many years by the FAA since they can't possibly test for every type of cell phone and the various features they include. Seems like common sense to me.

 

[kdonnel]

It does seem odd that United would consent to a piece highlighting their launch of Starlink service by showcasing it being used in a way that is contrary to United's wifi terms of use and airline policies.

There is actually a DOT rule that says airlines CAN allow voice/video data calls but must disclose that calls are allowed to the other passengers so they can choose whether they want to purchase a ticket or not.

In this case it appears there were no other passengers to notify.