Last week, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) rolled out a blog in the name of increasing transparency in government, a practice agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Disease Control, and Department of Health and Human Services began almost a year ago. But unlike the other agency blogs, TSA's blogs actually bring readers. In one week, over 2600 comments streamed into TSA through its blog. Not surprisingly, many of the comments posted were questions about the need for various screening tactics, why only 3 ounce bottles of liquids are allowed in carry-ons, if there is danger of contracting a foot infection for those not wearing socks whose shoes were scanned, and why electronics must be turned off during flights.
To give you a sample of the Q & A, we've excepted the latter question and answer below:
Q: Can someone please explain to me all the fuss about having all of your electronics OFF before we leave the gate?A: A good question. Actually it was found that cell phone signals, specifically those in the 800-900 MHz range, did interfere with unshielded cockpit instrumentation. Because older aircraft with unshielded wiring can be affected, because of the possible problems that may arise by having many airborne cell phones "seeing" multiple cell phone towers, and because of all the electronic systems in a modern airplane that would have to undergo lengthy and expensive certification, the FCC (via enforcement through the FAA) still deems it best to stay on the safe side and prohibit the use of cell phones while airborne. It should be noted, though, that such a prohibition is being lifted in Europe.And while I'd like to take credit for that rant...all credit goes to The Mythbusters (with a little help from Wikipedia).TSA employees seem genuinely excited and impressed with the response. And in one circumstance, individual comments even led to a change in TSA operations. Apparently, certain airports were requiring ALL electronics to be removed from carry-on bags, instead of just laptops. The citizen-blog readers blew the whistle, notifying TSA who checked into what was going on. TSA issued their response to the situation on their blog today.
A: After some calls to our airports, we learned that this exercise was set up by local TSA offices and was not part of any grand plan across the country. These practices were stopped on Monday afternoon and blackberrys, cords and iPods began to flow through checkpoints like the booze was flowing on Bourbon Street Tuesday night.Of course, like any good blog site, there's plenty of negativity too. And although TSA views the sequence of events above as a success, many blog readers see it as a failure in operations highlighted. Comments vary in tone from disenchanted to down right nasty. We've sampled a few choice posts below in response to the additional electronics screening debacle.
Dave X said... How did TSA not know that some airports did it this way? Do you not check? Do TSA folk flash some badge & smile and flow through security without noticing these different policies? Are you really saying this blog is one of the best mechanisms TSA has of regularizing and standardizing their operations? Anonymous said...There are no Standard Operating Procedures? You guys aren't doing some analysis on where the chain of command broke down?
It's just 'we finally read the internet and turns out we have no idea what our field ops were doing'?Anonymous said...It's an embarassment that the TSA does not know what's going on it its own house without this blog. Rogue screeners have been creating their own rules since the inception of the TSA, yet this is hailed as a major victory?
Please, figure out what's going on in your own house, clean it up thoroughly, then come brag to us about it. This is nothing more than a public relations stunt in which you've allowed things to deteriorate to the point where enforcing your own policies on your employees is considered an improvement.
No one will argue that flying in the U.S. is an incredible test of patience. On a given trip, you've waited in line at the check-in, security screening, to enter the plane, to exit the plane, and to get your bags. You've take off your shoes, removed your coat, pocket items, and your laptop while watching the line next to you move three times as fast because the person in front of you has never flown anywhere. You've ridden a flying piece of aluminum cramped among overweight passengers with little food and water while being told when you can and cannot stand up, use your ipod, or lean your seat back for some breathing room.
Given these shared experiences, it's no wonder TSA's blog getting some user traction...people want to vent. And more importantly, they want to know that these aggravations they are forced to deal with at airports are not in vain. They want to know that the plane may actually crash if they watch a movie too soon. They want to know they had to throw away their thirty dollar perming lotion to ensure terrorists don't blow them up. Most of all, they want to know that someone else is taking care of things.
We commend the actions TSA is taking to bridge this communication gap with the citizens they aim to protect and to improve its operations. Despite the negativity, many blog readers were happy to see they had a means of making their voices heard and improving operations. And so was OhMyGov!