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Expanding Internet Access
American air carriers have begun offering passengers Internet service during
flights, something foreign airlines have been offering their passengers for the
past three years.
The hold up in offering this service to U.S. domestic flyers can be blamed
on any number of factors including terrorist concerns, flight crew concerns
and
fear of losing revenue from onboard telephones.
American Airlines and Delta have installed the equipment needed and now offer
the service in about half their domestic flights. Other airlines have announced
that they will be testing the service in the immediate future.
Flight crews, through their unions, have expressed concern that passengers
may access and view content that may be considered objectionable by passengers
seated
nearby. People who work closely with the general public, tend to agree that
it will be a very short time before some passenger provokes trouble by choosing
to watch pornography on the seventeen inch screen attached to his laptop computer.
When that happens, passengers will undoubtedly turn to crewmembers to act as
censors or, if it comes to it, referees in a melee that is certain to erupt.
While airlines still prohibit the use of cell phones during flights, everyone
who uses a computer with access to the Internet knows you can make telephone
calls through websites like Skype to anyone, anywhere in the world. How airlines
can protect their current monopoly on in-flight telephone service while offering
Internet service is something that remains a mystery.
At present, airlines are offering the Wi-Fi service onboard their aircraft
for around $10.00 for flights up to three hours and slightly more, for longer
flights.
While many passengers will welcome the ability to pass some time by cruising
the Internet or sending and receiving email, not all passengers are excited
about losing even more precious quiet time to “technocreep” - the
constant advance of technology into daily life.
Frequent business travelers often enjoy the hour or two of downtime they
gain from flights; where they can catch a quick nap or perhaps catch up on
some
personal reading. Once employers know that Wi-Fi is available onboard aircraft,
they may
expect their employees to remain in contact with the office or engage in some
other work related endeavor.
“
Crackberry” addicts and other PDA owners will undoubtedly welcome the
ability to keep texting on flights but it is too early to say just how annoying
nearby
passengers will find the constant tap, tap, tapping of tiny keyboards.
While these and other concerns may need to be addressed with the introduction
of this in-flight service, the ability of passengers to download and view
television programming and movies during flights will undoubtedly become popular
and may
open the door to some Internet service sites being developed specifically
to service airline travelers.
One thing is for certain, as Internet access expands, horizontal publications
such as daily newspapers and general news and entertainment magazines will
continue to shrink. The Internet already serves as the place where a majority
of Americans
get their news and so long as access to the Internet expands, traditional
sources will continue to shrink.
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