General aviation leaders are appealing to lawmakers for a more permanent solution to the 5G spectrum issue and better federal interagency coordination when similar spectrum issues arise in the future. In June key U.S. government, wireless, and aviation stakeholders agreed to a partial extension of the 5G C-band mitigation by cellular companies Verizon and AT&T in select markets. The mitigations are designed to shield against interference from Verizon's and AT&T's use of spectrum near that used by aircraft radar/radio altimeters.
Appearing Wednesday before a House aviation subcommittee hearing on general aviation issues, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen noted, “We have a temporary situation, but we have permanent challenges.” Bolen said he was encouraged that the FAA and telecommunications industry are working together now and sharing data. “There are important conversations that are taking place…I think we are moving through and finding balances, but we need to be vigilant.”
The parties involved have learned a lot as they work together, Bolen maintained, “but we are in a situation that we’ve got to find ways to move forward on a permanent direction...to facilitate the benefits of safe aviation operations.”
General Aviation Manufacturers Association president and CEO Pete Bunce added that “this is just the tip of the iceberg.” He warned that the issue of potentially harmful spectrum interference is “going to happen again and very soon.” He pointed to the efforts of Ligado to roll out a 5G network next to bands used for aviation communications. “As spectrum becomes more precious and they start being adjacent to our spectrum…it’s going to happen again.”
The issue is, Bunce added, that it takes a long time to certify new products, so equipment solutions to spectrum interference are not quick fixes.
He stressed the need for agency coordination, noting the FAA had warned the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of potential interference from telecommunication companies’ 5G plans, “but it was like they were shouting in the woods and nobody was listening. There was no coordination between the FCC and FAA. So, if we can do anything in government, it is to start getting these agencies to work together.”
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Pete DeFazio (D-Oregon) agreed. “We need to know what the longer term is going to be,” he said, citing a lack of agreement on permanent mitigation measures. DeFazio noted other countries have adopted measures such as areas of protection, lower power and deflection from certain antennas, and other initiatives that would not harm either industry. “It’s doable. It's being done in other countries. We should be able to do it here.”
However, DeFazio did say he had a “good conversation” with FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel and “she recognized the fact that a lack of coordination went on under the last administration and it is committed to doing better.” But he further stated a belief in a need for a formal memorandum of understanding between the agencies.
In addition to advancing telecom technologies, Bolen urged the subcommittee to remain aware of other advancing technologies that could threaten the privacy of general aviation passengers and operators. “Congress has historically recognized that getting on a general aviation aircraft could not mean giving up your right to privacy.” He noted that Congress has supported efforts to develop mitigation to shield business aviation privacy such as through aircraft data limitations. “But technology is moving fast and we need to move faster to make sure that there is a right to privacy reflected in those movements.”