The deployment of C-band 5G has inspired so many vitriolic accusations, blame assignments based on “assumptions,” and criticisms without factual citations. As with conflicts among federal agencies, service providers Verizon and AT&T, consumers of new technology, and those who may be affected collaterally by this innovation, little of the underlying substance was revealed. Proprietary data, safety systems’ susceptibility to interference, and the normal debate tactics of not showing your hand minimized the relevant information to the outside observers.
Ironically, one of the greatest benefits of 5G is a “faster, better delivery of information." In the last few weeks, the trouble has become more transparent—the data is the thing to capture the safety of flying. The record makes it clear that the FAA was not willing to permit the aircraft under its statutory highest levels of safety jurisdiction without more detailed data (performance parameters that gave the FAA radio analyst enough to measure the interaction between the 5G signals and radar altimeters).
