49 USC § 41725 - Prohibition on certain cell phone voice communications

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t49/s41725"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "49 USC § 41725 - Prohibition on certain cell phone voice communications"
title_number: 49
title_name: "TRANSPORTATION"
section_number: "41725"
section_name: "Prohibition on certain cell phone voice communications"
chapter_number: 417
chapter_name: "OPERATIONS OF CARRIERS"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "REQUIREMENTS"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title IV, § 403(a), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3328.)"
---


# § 41725. Prohibition on certain cell phone voice communications

**(a)** **Prohibition.—** The Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations—

**(1)** to prohibit an individual on an aircraft from engaging in voice communications using a mobile communications device during a flight of that aircraft in scheduled passenger interstate or intrastate air transportation; and

**(2)** that exempt from the prohibition described in paragraph (1) any—

**(A)** member of the flight crew on duty on an aircraft;

**(B)** flight attendant on duty on an aircraft; and

**(C)** Federal law enforcement officer acting in an official capacity.

**(b)** **Definitions.—** In this section, the following definitions apply:

**(1)** **Flight.—** The term “flight” means, with respect to an aircraft, the period beginning when the aircraft takes off and ending when the aircraft lands.

**(2)** **Mobile communications device.—**

**(A)** **In general.—** The term “mobile communications device” means any portable wireless telecommunications equipment utilized for the transmission or reception of voice data.

**(B)** **Limitation.—** The term “mobile communications device” does not include a phone installed on an aircraft.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title IV, § 403(a), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3328.)