Airlines and Wireless Solved Their Problem - Amongst Themselves. Not Fighting It Out in DC
There are, conservatively, a trillion problems a day that arise in the United States. I would, as a conservative, like government involved in as few of them as possible.
But because government at all levels is so huge? It crowds out all the private spaces - and with them the perception that private solutions are possible.
I work in DC - metaphorically, not physically. What I see far too often there is:
Big Businesses A & B have a private sector conflict of some sort. But rather than sitting down together and resolving their issue? They go to DC and power up.
Ridiculously expensive consultants, lawyers and lobbyists are hired to marshal the mighty forces of the federal government to their respective sides of their dispute.
Far too often anymore? That is the default response to a problem: Let’s fight it out in DC - and have the government decide.
So it is refreshing when two major private sector players actually hash out their problem basically on their own. With the government serving as a moderator - rather than the judge and jury.
I refer to the issue of: How best to sort out wireless spectrum conflicts between the phone companies and the airlines.
Spectrum is, of course, used for everything wireless. Like, say, our millions of phones, tablets and other devices. And, of course, airlines communicate wirelessly too.
Spectrum is a finite resource. And it is laid out sort of like a straightened out Monopoly game board. All the bands of spectrum are like the game’s real estate properties - except lined up vertically and contiguously - rather than wrapping around the game’s square board.
Where spectrum bands owned by different entities touch? There is the very real possibility of conflicting signals and bleed over between the two.
It is always a very serious problem. It is especially serious when it involves airplanes being able to take off, fly and land safely.
In 2021, the airlines and the phone companies unfortunately attempted to deal with it the DC way:
“In 2021, a breakdown in coordination led to alarming headlines and congressional hearings over fears that new wireless signals could interfere with aircraft altimeters critical to flight safety. Flights were delayed and new wireless services stalled. Over time, the situation was resolved and today those same signals power faster, better wireless service at lower cost - and greater home broadband competition.”
Well, the federal government is about to auction off a bunch of new spectrum - much of it close to the airlines’ airwaves. Are the two sides gearing up for another costly and stupid DC fight?
“Today, the FCC is preparing to auction a new set of airwaves close to those same aviation frequencies, called the Upper C-Band. You might expect a rerun of the same headlines - but you’d be wrong.
“This time, aviation, wireless, and the administration resolved potential questions years before a single wireless tower will go live….”
This time, the two industries sat down and resolved their differences - like adults. Not by running to Big Daddy Government and paying many millions to bribe Daddy into deciding which child he likes better.
This time, the federal government’s role was greatly diminished:
“We (the airline and wireless companies) started by agreeing that aviation safety comes first. Our industries do not always see eye to eye, but on this issue there was no daylight.
“Then we did the work - together.
“Instead of arguing in public, our two industries sat down with the FAA and the FCC. We shared our data. We put our best engineers in the same room.
“Aviation explained safety requirements and how altimeters behave in flight. Wireless explained how 5G networks are deployed and operate. Engineers challenged assumptions, tested models and ultimately reached consensus.”
The two industries give credit to the Donald Trump Administration - as a moderator and facilitator. Not as the final arbiter:
“The Trump administration brought all stakeholders to the table and kept us there. The White House was engaged from the start and made clear it expected a solution that worked for both industries. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr led from Day 1.
“That kind of leadership is the reason a debate that could have dragged on for years was settled fairly and efficiently.
“The result: everyone will come out ahead.”
Well, everyone except: DC’s ridiculously expensive consultants, lawyers and lobbyists.
Thankfully for all the rest of us? They mostly watched this success story from the sidelines.
Now, will these two industries PLEASE share their success story - with every other industry on the planet?
That would be great.