FAA Wants 5G C-Band Operation Limits Mandated

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

UPDATE Earlier this month, Inside Towers reported that several airlines and aviation manufacturers sought to make the temporary restrictions AT&T and Verizon agreed to for 5G operations on C-band (3.7 GHz) near airports permanent. Now, the FAA seeks that outcome, too, plus restrictions for smaller telecoms as well. Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said in a letter to the FCC and NTIA he wants the restrictions mandated for 19 smaller telecoms and other spectrum holders. "Aviation safety would be compromised if the U.S. government does not codify certain additional operating limits in the 5G C-band environment,” wrote Nolen, according to Reuters. He raised the specter of flight disruptions if the FCC doesn’t mandate the mitigations. It’s unclear if the Commission has the authority to retroactively impose conditions on companies that purchased spectrum at auction. The issue is fear about 5G operations on C-band possibly interfering with aviation radio altimeters. The devices give data on a plane’s height above the ground and are critical for bad-weather landings. Continue Reading