The Federal Aviation Administration has made it difficult for AT&T and Verizon to roll out 5G service due to safety concerns. It looks like there could be another delay over FAA concerns. The launch of C-band service was delayed after the Department of Transportation raised concerns about possible interference. The FAA and the Transportation Department are asking for more time to study the issue, according to a letter obtained by the news agency.
In a letter sent to the CEOs of AT&T and Verizon, the FAA Administrator and the transportation secretary asked for a delay of no more than two weeks. The two framed the request as part of a proposal for a near-term solution for the co-existence of 5G deployment in the C-Band and safe flight operations.
The issue of pilots using poor-weather safety system that could conflict with new C-band 5G technology has been unresolved. The Wall Street Journal reported in November that the FAA wants to bar pilots from using such systems. The C-band 5G has the potential to interfere with flights in and around the nearly four dozen cities where C-band towers are located. There is no evidence that C-band 5G will endanger flight safety.
The FAA would designate priority airports where a buffer zone would allow aviation operations to continue safely while the FAA completes its assessments of the interference potential.
Both companies say they received the letter. They haven't agreed to an additional two-week delay. This postponement would be bad news for both carriers. The companies accused the aviation industry of holding the C-band expansion hostage until the wireless industry agreed to cover the costs ofUpgrading any obsolete altimeters.
The airlines should look at their track record over the past two weeks, if they are so concerned about flight cancellation related to 5G, according to a statement from a company. The industry which got a $54 billion taxpayer-funded, government bail out over the past couple years has a lot of bigger issues to worry about.
The companies agreed to six months of precautionary measures when they purchased the C-band spectrum in early 2021.
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