FAA, US telecom agency hold 5G C-Band aviation talks - sources

Senior leaders at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Commerce Department's telecommunications unit met to discuss aviation safety concerns raised by new 5G C-Band deployments, two sources briefed on the meeting told Reuters on Tuesday. FAA acting Administrator Billy Nolen and Alan Davidson, who heads the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), met virtually for about 30 minutes on Monday, the sources said. Last month, Nolen wrote the NTIA seeking a delay in some 5G C-Band transmissions from smaller operators over aviation safety concerns. The FAA and NTIA declined comment on the meeting. Nolen said in his Oct. 21 letter said the agency wants the Federal Communications Commission to mandate voluntary mitigations AT&T and Verizon agreed to earlier this year 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," Nolen wrote. Industry officials say the FAA has raised the idea of temporarily prohibiting deployment of some stations in the 3.8-3.9 MHz block and maintaining some existing power limits until January 2024. The letter was sent to Davidson and FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel was copied.<br/>