You know the pre-takeoff drill. Fasten your seat belts. Locate the nearest exits. Turn off all portable electronic devices and cell phones. That's not going to change any time soon. And for that, you can thank the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC has decided to keep its ban on cell phone use in the skies because it just doesn't know enough about how those calls would affect cell phone traffic on the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration also bans the use of cell phones and electronic devices while planes are airborne because they might interfere with the plane's navigation and communications systems. Those government restrictions have kept the skies mercifully free of cell phone chatter.

The FCC decision two and a half years ago to consider lifting the ban provoked a furious debate. More than 8,000 people sent comments to the FCC. Many begged the FCC: Please don't subject us to this.

Some people pointed out that airplanes had substantial background noise, such as the roar of engines, so people on their phones would talk even louder than they normally do. Others hinted darkly at the potential for "air rage" and "violent conflict between passengers."

The FCC said none of the emotional arguments on either side swayed commissioners. It will keep the ban because it doesn't have enough information on how cell phone calls from 5 miles up would affect cell towers on the ground. Those calls could tie up circuits in many cell towers at once, perhaps leading to worse service.

Whatever the reason, this is a small victory in the cell phone wars. For at least a little while longer, the skies will remain a refuge from the can-you-hear-me-now? crowd.

— Chicago Tribune-----------Intelligence officials in Washington say al-Qaida is slowly re-establishing its command-and-control capabilities and building a new network of training camps in Pakistan.These assessments paint a troubling picture of the terrorist organization's resurgence in the mountainous tribal areas near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.Al-Qaida hasn't attained the strength and sophistication of its pre-Sept. 11 days, but analysts say the organization is clearly rebuilding.The Bush administration should pressure Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to do more to deal with the al-Qaida presence in North Waziristan, a rugged province dominated by semi-autonomous tribes.Two years ago the picture was quite different. Analysts said Osama bin Laden and his top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, had been largely separated from much of al-Qaida's rank and file.But last year Musharraf agreed to a treaty with North Waziristani tribal leaders. Pakistan would pull back its troops if the tribes ended support for cross-border raids into Afghanistan.This treaty turned out to be a setback in the war on terror. North Waziristan is developing into a thriving center of al-Qaida activity.Most troubling, authorities have discovered linkages between al-Qaida's leadership and the individuals behind last summer's failed plot to blow up airliners departing from London.Analysts say some of the suspects in the London plot were trained in Pakistan.The Bush administration is understandably wary of pushing Musharraf too hard for fear of undercutting him, given that some elements of Pakistan's military still support the Taliban.But perhaps the White House has been too wary, because the current situation is untenable. Washington should insist that Pakistan do more to deal with the growing terrorist presence taking root in its territory.

— The Kansas City Star