Cell phones on airplanes?

The FAA is thinking about allowing cell phone usage on airplanes.

Here's my take on the matter. The only people who would bother me by talking on their cell phone on an airplane are the people seated right next to me. You can't hear a conversation more than a couple rows away because of the noise of the jet engines. It's not going to be that much noisier with people talking on cell phones. One possible glitch with that, however, is that I've never actually heard people talking on cell phones while the engines are running. (Currently they can only be used on the ground when the engines are much quieter if they are running at all.) People trying to talk over the engine noise might have to shout. (Not good.) Someone should do an investigation of this before it goes any further.

For me, it's that total stranger sitting 6 inches from me who would be the trouble. (Think: 3 hours or more sitting in very close quarters with someone complaining about life/love/work/whatever on their cell phone.)

So here's my solution: When ordering your tickets, you should have the opportunity to make a pledge to not use your cell phone. Those making that pledge will only be seated next to others who make a similar pledge, to the extent possible (and if it's not possible, you should be informed before being charged for the ticket). We already have on-line seat selection. This should not be that hard to implement in that system. Those not willing to make the "cell-free" pledge would have no right to complain if they are disturbed. (Note that I don't think a "no-cell section" of the plane would really be necessary. Just try to keep cell users and pledged non-users from sitting next to each other.

And let's see if the market can figure it out. Maybe one smart company will implement my plan (thinking it will get more non-cell phone customers). Others might follow. I hope the government doesn't try to micromanage this.

Any thoughts on my idea? Any other unintended consequences?

I'm not opposed to cell phones on airplanes, but personally, I would like to be seated next to people who (like me) will promise not to use them in flight. Shouldn't be hard to figure out.

On a related matter, the FAA is looking at providing Internet access in the air. It's about time!