From the Wall Street Journal ($$$ req'd):
Lawmakers yesterday expressed reluctance about allowing the use of cellphones on planes, citing safety and annoyance concerns. Homeland Security officials raised new concerns about terrorists' ability to use such devices to carry out attacks.
While many business travelers are pressing to use their cellphones on flights, Federal Aviation Administration officials are moving slowly on studying their safety. In addition, public comments suggest that a lot of travelers don't want to listen to others' phone calls.
Both the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission have said they are considering allowing cellphone use on planes but neither has set a deadline for reaching a decision. The FAA will receive an independent safety review of the issue by the end of next year.
OK, as far as a reason for an inquiry by the FAA into cellphone's use, I'll buy the terrorism argument. It's not that I am unconvinced that air carriers wouldn't be sufficiently concerned about bombs exploding in their airplanes, but there is a national security issue at work here. But as far as the annoyance issue goes, that's not something the FAA need concern itself with. That's something the private marketplace can and should work out.