Regulations and Government
FAA, FCC Head for 5G Showdown
The debate over 5G C-band and radio altimeters is likely headed to court.

The late-December pledge from the U.S. wireless and aviation industries to work together over the safety of the 5G C-band was short-lived, with both sides issuing acrimonious letters and petitions between Christmas and New Year’s in what is shaping up to be a turf war between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and FAA. Wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon are scheduled to switch on the 5G C-band on Wednesday. While the exigent topic du jour is the potential of the 5G C-band to disrupt aircraft radio altimeters with RF interference and all their related systems that make instrument flight safe and reliable, the larger issue is which agency has the primary responsibility for aviation safety. 


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