Wireless Guide News

The FCC is calling for public comment on the legality of the San Francisco transit agency’s interruption of cellular service in August 2011. Bay Area Rapid Transit had shut off cell phone service in its tunnels, anticipating a cell-phone-coordinated protest of the fatal shooting of passengers by the transit system’s police.

The FCC promised a probe in December, and late this week the Commission announced (PDF) that it would be taking public comment until April 30, and will issue a reply by May 30.

SF transit officials claimed they cut service to protect public safety by dispersing the protest, but critics of that justification said it violated free speech and put people who might need to make emergency calls at risk. The FCC claims that 70 percent of emergency calls now come from mobile phones.

But the FCC’s public notice also states that law enforcement personnel have raised concerns that, “wireless service could be used to trigger the detonation of an explosive device or to organize the activities of a violent…………… continues on Ars Technica

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois wants to go a step further in addressing the causes of distracted driving in the age of ubiquitous mobile phone use.

State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is sponsoring House Bill 3972 that would ban handheld cell phone use while a person is driving, but allow the driver to use speakerphones and wireless devices. The bill would lobby fines of $ 75 for first-time violators and $ 150 after the fourth violation.

“At least with hands-free, you can have your second hand on the wheel,” D’Amico said.

“I remember seeing people driving with a coffee and doughnut in each hand and steering with their knees,” said state Rep. David Harris, R-Arlington Heights, who supports D’Amico’s bill. “There are distractions everywhere, but cell phones have become so pervasive, it’s clearly a public safety issue.”

Illinois law prohibits texting while driving as well as handheld cell phone use in school zones and in most highway construction zones.

Since January 2010 in Illinois, 1,500 people have been convicted of texting while driving and 5,000 people have been convicted of using a handheld cell phone in a school or construction zone, said Henry Haupt, a spokesman for the Illinois Secretary of State.

However, state Sen. John Millner, R-Bloomingdale, said the real issue is people who are distracted and driving recklessly.

“Some people can dri…………… continues on MyWebTimes.com

Cell phones are arguably one of the most ubiquitous items in the world. Everywhere you look it seems someone is talking, texting, typing or otherwise tuned into their cell.

It’s no surprise then that a recently released report from Cisco reveals that the number of cell phones will surpass the human population this year. To some, the statistic is scary. Others may find the fact fascinating. A few others to consider:

• Average smartphone usage almost tripled in the past year, according to Cisco’s report — from 55 MBs per month in 2010 to 150 MBs per month in 2011.
• U.S. teens send and receive on average 3,339 texts per month, or the equivalent of more than six every hour they’re awake, according to the Nielsen Company.

A 2010 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation reported by Bloomberg Businessweek attributes an increase in U.S. children’s media consumption to the explosion of cell phone use. Indeed, the number of teens with a cell phone and the time they spend u…………… continues on Patch.com

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CHAPEL HILL — You can weigh in Monday on a proposal to ban talking on a cellphone while driving.

The Chapel Hill Town Council is considering a proposal to ban hand-held phone calls or both hand-held and hands-free calls while driving. The ordinance would apply to all streets town-wide, including state-owned roads.

The council previously looked at banning talking on the phone while driving on town-owned roads, but council members said that would confuse drivers because many main roads in Chapel Hill such as Franklin Street are state-owned.

Those caught talking on the phone while driving would be fined $ 25. Exceptions would be made for emergency calls to a law-enforcement agency, health-care provider or emergency room.

Former council member Joe Capowski asked for the ban last year, but the town deferred as the state considered a ban. Chapel Hill would be the first town in North Carolina to enact such a ban.

Texting while driving is currently illegal in North Carolina.

Karen Turner’s brother was killed in August 2010 by a driver who was texting behind the wheel. Turner, who lives in Asheville, supports banning all cellphone use while driving and plans to tell her brother’s story to the council Monday night.

Joel Severson, 39, was on his way to work on his motorcycle…………… continues on News & Observer

Cell phones connect you socially, but they may also make you less socially minded.

Cell phones keep us socially connected, but new research suggests they actually reduce users’ social consciousness. In fact, the study showed that cell phone use was linked to more selfish behavior.

Researchers from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business found that after a short period of cell phone use, people were less likely to partake in “prosocial” behavior — actions that are intended to help another person or society — compared with a control group. For example, after using a cell phone, study participants were more likely to turn down volunteer opportunities and were less persistent in completing word problems, even though they knew their answers would provide money…………… continues on TIME

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Town seeks cellphone ban input
Council to hear from dead man’s sister, others on proposal Monday night.

BY KATELYN FERRAL, kferral@newsobserver.com

CHAPEL HILL – You can weigh in Monday on a proposal to ban talking on a cellphone while driving.The Chapel Hill Town Council is considering a proposal to ban hand-held phone calls or both hand-held and hands-free calls while driving. The ordinance would apply to all streets town-wide, including state-owned roads.The council previously looked at banning talking on the phone while driving on town-owed roads, but council members said that would confuse driv…………… continues on Chapel Hill News

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Since international roaming charges are often overlooked by most cell phone and smartphone owners, a Florida woman received a nasty bill after placing her brother on the family cell phone plan.

Received in early October 2011, Celina Aarons of Florida was ”crying and shaking” after ripping open her 43-page T-Mobile bill for the month that totaled over $ 200,000 in wireless charges. While Aarons wasn’t directly responsible for racking up the charges, she did authorize one of her brothers to use the account during a vacation to Canada. The brother, Shamir, is legally deaf and communicates entirely through text messaging. Shamir texted over 2,000 times during the trip at a rate of $ 0.20 per text message which is T-Mobile’s international messaging rate. However, Shamir also downloaded and watched plenty of…………… continues on Digitaltrends.com