Letter to Stephen Dickson, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration - T&I Members Request Regular Briefings with FAA on 5G Deployment

Letter

Dear Administrator Dickson:

Thank you for participating in the Subcommittee on Aviation's hearing on February 3, 2022, focused on the nationwide deployment of 5G wireless service, its effect on the U.S. aviation industry and national airspace system (NAS), and the need to identify permanent solutions to ensure a safe coexistence between aviation and 5G wireless services.

We appreciate the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) unprecedented efforts to enable commercial and general aviation aircraft to continue operating safely and efficiently across the NAS in this new 5G environment. Moving forward, we expect the FAA to continue to be the voice of aviation safety, and to work collaboratively with Congress, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), airlines, airports, aerospace manufacturers, the telecommunications sector, and other key stakeholders to devise and implement, in a concurrent manner, the short- and long-term solutions necessary for maintaining aviation safety while providing for the continued deployment of broadband.

It is critical that the concerns of all parties involved be taken seriously and the sharing of critical safety data be prioritized. Additionally, early and open lines of communication with all involved parties must be strengthened in order to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and ensure all voices are heard.

While we are supportive of the January 18, 2022, agreement reached between Verizon, AT&T, and the Biden Administration on 5G safety mitigations and deployment, many challenges and questions require further examination before this issue is resolved. Given the tremendous economic and safety ramifications of this ongoing issue, including the potential expiration of certain aviation safety mitigations, we respectfully request that the FAA provide briefings every other month to Members of the Subcommittee on Aviation, beginning in April 2022, to keep them informed of the FAA's ongoing 5G efforts and progress. These bimonthly briefings will help enable the Subcommittee's continued oversight of this crucial issue.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. Should any questions arise, please contact [redacted] with the Aviation Subcommittee majority staff at [redacted] and [redacted] with the Aviation Subcommittee minority staff at [redacted].

Sincerely,