In Washington on March 11, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized Verizon for not making sufficient progress in its $2.4 billion, 15-year telecom contract with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Duffy, who intends to request tens of billions of dollars from Congress for air traffic control reform, expressed his frustration following Starlink's recent denial of interest in taking over the Verizon FAA contract.
"I want companies that are eager to move swiftly," Duffy stated during a press conference. "I can't wait 10 years... The American people can't wait either."
Verizon responded by stating its collaboration with the FAA to enhance the national air traffic control system. The company also expressed openness to partnering with other firms that could offer complementary services.
Duffy emphasized the need for rapid action from multiple companies to modernize outdated systems, stressing the importance of collective efforts.
The FAA, under pressure to address failing air traffic control systems, is under scrutiny. Speculation has surfaced suggesting a potential reassignment of the Verizon contract to Starlink, although SpaceX refuted any such intention, emphasizing Starlink's role as a partial solution to the air traffic control system's challenges.
Democratic voices have proposed reassigning the Verizon contract to Starlink due to Elon Musk's connections with the current President and his push for government efficiency.
Last month, the FAA announced conducting tests with three Starlink terminals in Alaska to improve weather information accessibility for pilots and the FAA.