U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Steve Dickson revealed details in a joint letter to AT&T and Verizon Communications late Monday, outlining the agreement to delay C-Band wireless deployment by two weeks, which was scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
They wrote that the agreement "will give us additional time and space to reduce the impacts on commercial flights." "We are confident that your voluntary actions will support the safe coexistence of 5G C-Band deployment and aviation activities, thereby preserving America's economic strength and global leadership."
According to the "final term sheet," unless "unforeseen aviation safety issues" arise, US agencies "will not seek or demand any further delays of C-Band deployment, in whole or in part, including a delay in return to routine operations."
According to an industry official, the agreement ensures they will be able to begin deployment this month.
The aviation industry and the FAA have expressed concern about potential 5G interference with sensitive aircraft electronics such as radio altimeters, which could cause flights to be disrupted.
AT&T and Verizon agreed on Sunday to implement six-month exclusion zones around some airports in an effort to mirror France's safeguards.
According to the letter, regulators will provide the carriers "with a list of no more than 50 priority airports that they would propose to be subject to the C-Band exclusion zones" that AT&T and Verizon proposed on Sunday by Friday.
Additional requests for "voluntary surgical mitigation measures at any individual airport" may be made, but AT&T and Verizon "shall have sole discretion to determine whether any requested mitigations, adjustments, or alterations will be implemented."
In a $80-billion auction last year, AT&T and Verizon won nearly all of the C-Band spectrum. Verizon paid a total of $52.9 billion for the spectrum, including incentive payments and clearing costs.
After the FAA raised safety concerns and adopted voluntary precautionary measures for six months, AT&T and Verizon agreed in November to postpone the deployment by 30 days to January 5.