Former FCC Presidents Call for Aviation and 5G Dispute Resolution

Six former presidents of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urged the Joe Biden administration on Monday (13) to quickly resolve a dispute over the use of 5G spectrum that the airline industry says poses a risk to the airline. air security.

Former FCC Presidents Ajit Pai, Tom Wheeler, Julius Genachowski, Michael Copps, Michael Powell and Mignon Clyburn said in a joint letter they were "concerned" by the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) recent efforts to revise the FCC's 2020 decision to allow the use of the C-band spectrum for wireless use.

The former officials said the agencies should work to "resolve the FAA's concerns quickly, but this debate should not be publicly fought in a way that undermines consumer confidence in the process."

Asked about the letter from the former FCC presidents, the FAA said it continues "to work with federal agencies and corporations so that 5G C-band and aviation can safely coexist."

The aviation industry and the FAA have raised concerns about potential 5G interference in sensitive aircraft electronics such as radio altimeters. AT&T and Verizon agreed in November to delay the commercial launch of C-band wireless service until January 5, after the FAA raises questions and issues airworthiness guidelines, ordering the revision of aircraft and helicopter flight manuals to ban some operations that require radio altimeter data when in the presence of 5G broadband signals.

The FAA continues in discussions with the FCC, the White House and industry officials over the precise contours of any limitations, which are expected to be outlined in the coming weeks in a series of notices.

AT&T and Verizon said they would take precautionary measures for six months to limit interference. But aviation industry groups said they were insufficient to address air safety issues.

Text translated using artificial intelligence.