F.A.A. nears new rules on portable devices

This week, an F.A.A. advisory panel will meet to complete its recommendations to relax most of the restrictions.

The guidelines are expected to allow reading e-books or other publications, listening to podcasts, and watching videos, according to several of the panel’s members who requested anonymity from the NY Times because they could not comment on the recommendations.

The ban on sending and receiving e-mails and text messages or using Wi-Fi during takeoff or landing is expected to remain in place, as is the prohibition on making phone calls throughout the flight, the panel members said.

The panel will recommend its new policy to the F.A.A. by the end of the month and it will most likely go into effect next year.