Washington ? You ease your seat back as the airplane lifts off, anticipating stress-free hours en route to your destination.

Then the guy next to you takes out his cell phone and starts talking. So does the woman in front of you. They talk. And talk.

That couldn’t happen today, because federal regulators have long banned the use of cell phones and other communications devices on airplanes.

But that scenario could play out in the next few years, because regulators are considering lifting the ban as new technologies emerge that could make usage less problematic. They hope to make a decision by next year.

Opponents of lifting the ban worry that excessive cell phone use in the skies could lead to more air rage incidents. They also cite concerns about aviation safety, law enforcement and national security issues.

“Declaring open season for cell phone users onboard aircraft threatens to create an unmanageable situation, undermining order in the cabin and jeopardizing aviation safety,” said Patricia Friend, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, during a recent hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee.

Those who favor lifting the ban – if it’s safe to do so – say it would help productivity.

“Judicious use of the cell phone will convert isolated hours spent in flight into productive revenue-generating potential, especially on long flights,” Greeley Koch, president of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, said at the hearing.

Lifting the ban would require the approval of both the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Aviation Admin., because both have jurisdiction.

If the FCC, which has taken the lead in reviewing the ban, decides to lift it, then the FAA will determine whether to allow cell phone usage based only on safety matters.

The Justice and Homeland Security departments have cautioned against moving too quickly on lifting the ban. They fear that terrorists could use cell phones to coordinate attacks or even trigger explosives.