---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 41725"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "41725"
heading: "Prohibition on certain cell phone voice communications"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/41725"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart ii — economic regulation"
  - "Chapter 417 — Operations of Carriers"
  - "Subchapter I — Requirements"
---

# §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](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) from engaging in voice communications using a mobile communications device during a flight of that [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) in scheduled passenger interstate or [intrastate air transportation](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-27); and
  - (2) that exempt from the prohibition described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) any—
    - (A) member of the flight crew on duty on an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6);
    - (B) flight attendant on duty on an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6); 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](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6), the period beginning when the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) takes off and ending when the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) 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](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6).

## Source credit

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