[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 3, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21845-21846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10909]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 50315]
Study of Gambling on Commercial Aircraft
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of request for comments on study of gambling on
commercial aircraft.
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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the elements of an ongoing study of
gambling on commercial aircraft. This notice is being published to
provide interested persons an opportunity to provide comments on
specific questions important to the study.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than May 31, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Docket Clerk, Docket 50315,
Department of Transportation, 400 7th Street SW., Plaza 401,
Washington, DC 20590. To facilitate consideration of the comments, we
ask commenters to file eight copies of each comment. We encourage
commenters who wish to do so also to submit comments to the Department
through the Internet; our Internet address is
dot__dockets@postmaster.dot.gov.1 However, at this time the
Department considers only the paper copies filed with the Docket Clerk
to be the official comments. Comments will be available for inspection
at this address from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Commenters who wish the Department to acknowledge the receipt of their
comments should include a stamped, self-addressed postcard with their
comments. The Docket Clerk will date-stamp the postcard and mail it
back to the commenter.
\1\Our X.400 e-mail address is S=dotdockets/OU1=qmail/O=hq/
p=gov+dot/a=attmail/c=us.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James H. New, II, Office of Planning
and Special Projects, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 7th Street SW., Room 9215A, Washington, DC 20590,
(202) 366-4868.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This study, which is mandated by 49 U.S.C.
41311, requires the consideration of, among other things, the safety
and competitive implications of gambling on commercial aircraft. Before
this study is [[Page 21846]] completed, we will carefully consider any
comments that are received.
Study of Gambling on Commercial Aircraft
Background
Section 205 of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization
Act of 1994 (the ``Act''), P.L. No. 103-305 (August 23, 1994) added
section 41311 to Title 49 of the U.S. Code. Under 49 U.S.C. 41311(a),
``an air carrier or foreign air carrier may not install, transport, or
operate, or permit the use of any gambling device on board an aircraft
in foreign air transportation.'' Section 41311(a) was designed to
clarify current statutory prohibitions and to ensure equal treatment of
U.S.-flag air carriers with foreign flag carriers with regard to in-
flight gambling on commercial aircraft while the Department of
Transportation studied the issue and recommended whether a different
approach might be appropriate. Moreover, there was some concern that at
some future time a different rule might be more appropriate. See 140
Cong. Rec. S6664 (June 9, 1994).
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 41311(b), the Secretary of Transportation is
required to complete a study not later than one year (August 23, 1995)
after the date of the enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration
Authorization Act of 1994.
The study must have three components outlined as follows:
(1) the aviation safety effects of gambling applications on
electronic interactive video systems installed on board aircraft for
passenger use, including an evaluation of the effect of such systems
on the navigational and other electronic equipment of the aircraft,
on the passengers and crew of the aircraft and on issues relating to
the method of payment;
(2) the competitive implications of permitting foreign air
carriers only, but not United States air carriers, to install,
transport, and operate gambling applications on electronic
interactive video systems on board aircraft in the foreign commerce
of the United States on flights over international waters, or in
fifth freedom city-pair markets; and
(3) whether gambling should be allowed on international flights,
including proposed legislation to effectuate any recommended changes
in existing law.
Within five days after completion of the study, the Secretary of
Transportation must submit a report to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives on
the results of the study.
Interested parties are invited to participate in this study of
gambling on aircraft by submitting such written data, views, or
arguments as they may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis
supporting the views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful
in developing reasonable responses to the congressional issues raised.
Comments are specifically invited regarding:
(a) Effects on safety of allowing gambling devices, including
payment methods, to be installed and/or operated onboard aircraft
including the effects on: (1) Navigational and other electronic
equipment, and (2) passengers and crew. Regarding payment methods, at a
minimum, the following issues are of particular interest--payments that
require an air-to-surface interface, and whether payments/losses will
interfere with passenger safety and duties of the crew.
(b) Competitive effects of retaining, lifting, or modifying the
current restrictions on U.S. carriers with respect to (1) foreign air
transportation, (2) code-share arrangements, and (3) flights involving
fifth freedom markets.
(c) Whether gambling should be allowed in foreign air
transportation by U.S. and/or foreign air carriers.
(Authority Citation: 49 U.S.C. 41311)
Dated: April 27, 1995.
Patrick V. Murphy
Acting Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs,
Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 95-10909 Filed 5-2-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P
