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Microcap & Penny Stocks : Globalstar Telecommunications Limited GSAT -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: pheilman_ who wrote (16623)	9/8/2000 5:44:11 PM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 29987

Paul, I was aware that the FCC hasn't approved Globalstar phones yet for aviation purposes and that they control all that stuff. Thanks for the explanation of the problem it would give service providers. Mostly though, the aircraft connections would be in rural areas where they'd be lucky to connect to a couple of terrestrial cellphone towers. Imagine 400 people in a plane, coming in to land at LAX, with 100 of them announcing to their buddies that they are landing. I can see that would be burdensome on nearby service providers. But the nearest cellphone tower would tell the handset to just whisper, so there wouldn't be too many base stations affected [though even a whisper can carry a long way on a clear night with no trees and buildings in the way]. Wouldn't it be more money for the service provider? I have heard that people have used Globalstar phones, leaning up against the aircraft window and had no problem connecting and having a good quality call. Relative speeds are trivially affected by 1000 kph in a plane, which at least doesn't have bridges, trees and reflections for the satellite/gateway gizzards to account for. I wonder if there has ever been anything affected by cellphones, calculators, laptops etc in planes. Anyway, Boeing and others should make planes so that somebody switching on their phone can't make a plane crash. I heard that planes get hit by lightning, which is apparently a big electric flow with some emr involved too. Not to mention some physical effects from vibrating air. But they don't spin out of control because of it. Some child turning on a cellphone won't bring down a 747. If it can, Boeing should get a VERY big insurance policy for negligence in manufacture. Goodyear and Ford problems with the Explorer would be small compared with claims from a 747 full of dead people [and maybe a swathe of buildings and people near LAX]. Mqurice

To: pheilman_ who wrote (16623)	9/8/2000 10:02:21 PM
From: pcstel	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 29987

pheilman_ <<but listening carefully during the airline safety announcements reveals that cell phone use is restricted by the FCC, not the FAA>> I have to take an exception to your thesis.. Every on board announcement that I have ever heard states that it is restricted by the FAA.. Not the FCC.. The truth of the matter is that it is restricted by both the FAA and the FCC.. The FAA ruling on this is covered by Section 6 (ii) of FAA AC 91.21-1 (USE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES ABOARD AIRCRAFT).. bts.gov Section 6.7.b goes on to clarify. ."Currently, the FAA does not prohibit use of cellular telephones in aircraft while on the ground if the operator has determined that they will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which they are to be used. An example might be their use at the gate or during an extended wait on the ground, while awaiting a gate, when specifically authorized by the captain. A cellular telephone must not be authorized for use while the aircraft is being taxied for departure after leaving the gate. The unit must be turned off and properly stowed, otherwise it is possible that a signal from a ground cell could activate it. Whatever procedures an operator elects to adopt should be clearly spelled out in oral departure briefings and by written material provided to each passenger to avoid passenger confusion. BTW.. Maurice.. I believe that Sat Phones would be considered classified as "intentional radiators or transmitters." (Sec. 6.7) The FCC rules are outlined in FCC 47CFR Part 22 Section 22.925 § 22.925 Prohibition on airborne operation of cellular telephones. Cellular telephones installed in or carried aboard airplanes, balloons or any other type of aircraft must not be operated while such aircraft are air-borne (not touching the ground). When any aircraft leaves the ground, all cellular telephones on board that aircraft must be turned off. The following notice must be posted on or near each cellular telephone installed in any aircraft. Notice the FCC directive just states that a notice must be posted on or near each cellular telephone INSTALLED in any aircraft. Hope that clarifies things PCSTEL