Law Enforcement Looks To The Skies
Filings from Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Homeland Security, Cingular Wireless, Verizon Wireless, flight attendants, and comments from more than 7,000 people express concerns about the FCC potentially approving competitive commercial mobile radio services (CMRS) aboard airplanes.
The FCC is considering approval of picocell technology that concentrates on-board communications within the plane so as to not interfere with other wireless carriers. The Federal Aviation Administration, which ultimately has final say on the issue, is conducted an investigation into picocell transmission, ultrawideband, and RFID tags to determine if the technology could in any way interfere with the airplane’s controls.
The DOJ is concerned that terrorists will exploit the technology if approved, and it is urging that any approved CMRS meet Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act requirements that allows law enforcement officers to listen in on networks or track calls.
DOJ wants the ability to also interrupt phone calls, find out identities of people in communication with people on other airplanes, and wireless carriers must record and store all calls made aboard planes for easy access when requested.
Wireless carriers are now concerned about potential costs of compliance as well as potential for interference to ground-based wireless services.
Meanwhile, critics question whether or not passengers will even utilize CMRS, because they rarely used GTE’s Airfone service, says research firm Complete wireless practice director Adam Guy.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from Wireless Week (06/15/05); Rockwell, Mark .
