In a letter sent to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s acting administrator Michael Huerta on Thursday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has called for the easing of the airplane electronics ban.

With the ban currently prohibiting the passengers from using mobile handsets and other electronic devices on airplanes during takeoff and touchdown of flights, Genachowski has asked the FAA - the regulator of the airline industry - to review the ban.

According to Genachowski, the FAA should "enable greater use of tablets, e-readers, and other portable devices during flights, consistent with public safety," because portable electronic devices not only "empower people," but also help increase economic productivity.

Genachowski further elaborated in the letter that portable electronics devices give the users the advantage of staying informed at all times and remaining connected with their family and friends. In addition, these devices lend increased productivity and efficiency to big and small businesses; thus playing a vital role in driving economic growth and boosting US competitiveness.

Though the ban on the use of portable electronic devices during flights has been imposed by the FAA on the basis of the assumption that these devices can cause obstruction to the navigation equipment of the airplanes, the validity of this claim has been questioned by several new studies, with quite a few of them revealing that some people often forget to turn off their devices during flights!