FCC Issues New Report To Streamline In-Flight Wi-Fi Installations

When it comes to flying in the U.S., and dealing with either the FCC or the FAA, "red tape" comes to mind. It's a heavily regulated industry, and with safety at the forefront, there's at least somewhat of an excuse. But, it's still no fun to deal with, particularly if you're waiting for Wi-Fi to come to your favorite airline. But now, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted a Report and Order establishing rules to help speed the deployment of Internet services onboard aircraft. In other words, this action allows in-flight Wi-Fi providers to get their equipment certified faster and installed with fewer delays. Here's the word straight from the horse's mouth:

"The Report and Order formalizes ESAA as a licensed application in the FSS and establishes a regulatory framework for processing applications while ensuring other radio service operations are protected from harmful interference. Rather than have to license on-board systems on an ad hoc basis, airlines will be able test systems that meet FCC standards, establish that they do not interfere with aircraft systems, and get FAA approval."


The FCC seems to think that the new process will speed things up by 50%, which means your airline's list of excuses for not having in-flight Wi-Fi just shrunk.