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Federal aviation officials have agreed not to request further delays in Verizon and AT&T’s new 5G cellular service, paving the way for companies to launch their services while avoiding a major confrontation with regulators who say it could endanger flights.
In addition to delaying the start of services by two weeks, carriers will temporarily introduce measures designed to address the government’s technology-related security concerns, particularly at certain airports.
The agency has expressed concerns that the new 5G service is using signals that conflict with the equipment pilots use to land in bad weather. Authorities said they could restrict the use of this equipment, known as radio altimeters, which can under certain conditions stop or reroute flights.
In a letter sent to wireless companies Monday night, federal officials said that there were no “unforeseen” security issues with the technology, and that they would “not seek or request further delays” in turning on the new technology.
“We are confident that your voluntary action will help preserve America’s economic power and leadership role worldwide by supporting the safe co-existence of 5G C-Band deployment and aviation activities,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and executive director of the Federal Aviation Administration. Stephen Dickson in a letter to the senior executives of the two companies.
The deal avoids a skirmish this week between AT&T and Verizon, which originally planned to launch the service on Wednesday, and federal regulators, who said they could restrict flights if their concerns were not met. The country’s airlines said the restrictions could disrupt hundreds of thousands of passenger flights, soon after holiday travel was delayed due to staff shortages and weather-related delays and cancellations.
“Last night’s agreement is an important step in the right direction and we are grateful to all parties for their cooperation and goodwill,” President Biden said on Tuesday. Said. “This agreement ensures that there will be no disruption to air operations for the next two weeks and sets us on track to significantly reduce disruptions to air operations when AT&T and Verizon roll out 5G on January 19.”
Under the deal, wireless carriers will honor their commitment to run 5G stations at lower power than they had planned. Under the agreement, they will further reduce power around “more than 50 priority airports”.
The FAA said it will assess whether some radio altimeters can be used safely, even in 5G service, potentially exempting these devices from future restrictions and limiting the number of aircraft that will encounter delays or cancellations.
Airlines for America, a lobby group, had threatened to go to court to block the new 5G service. The organization’s CEO, Nicholas E. Calio, said in a statement that he will “continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the new 5G service can safely coexist with aviation.”
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