{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-blumenthal-call-for-ban-on-voice-communications-on-mobile-devices-during-flight", "Markey, Blumenthal Call for Ban on Voice Communications on Mobile Devices During Flight", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Edward Markey", "M000133", "www.markey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Markey, Blumenthal Call for Ban on Voice Communications on Mobile Devices During Flight \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 9, 2016\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSenators\u2019 amendment authorizing the Transportation Dept. to ban cell phone use on planes was included in last year\u2019s Senate FAA reauthorization bill\r\nWashington (March 16, 2016) \u2013\u00a0 Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today called on the Department of Transportation (DOT) to prohibit anyone on a commercial aircraft, except the crew and law enforcement, from talking on mobile devices during flight. Today, DOT issued a proposed rule that requires ticket agents and airlines to inform consumers if flights will permit voice communications on mobile devices, but does not outright ban the use of mobile devices for voice communications while flying.\r\n\u201cSmall seats, little legroom and, now, cell phone chatter \u2013 air travel could become even less comfortable if consumers are surrounded by passengers talking on mobile phones,\u201d\u00a0said Senators Markey and Blumenthal.\u201cPassengers sitting for hours in the confined space of an aircraft cabin should not have to suffer though other passengers\u2019 conversations on their mobile devices. Notifications of annoyances is no substitute for the zone of privacy that airline passengers pay for and deserve. The Transportation Department should prohibit anyone on an aircraft, except the crew and law enforcement, from talking on a mobile device during flight.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-blumenthal-call-for-ban-on-voice-communications-on-mobile-devices-during-flight"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 4.920880077406764, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}