Verizon, AT&T blame government for 5G problems; Biden thanks companies for delaying launches

President Joe Biden thanked Verizon and AT&T on Tuesday for delaying the launch of 5G around various airports across the country and working with the Department of Transportation.

He emphasized that a "safe 5G deployment" would occur at a "limited set of locations" tomorrow. 

In a press release Tuesday, Verizon blamed the federal government for the scaled-back deployment around airports. The Federal Aviation Administration and airlines "have not been able to fully resolve navigating 5G around airports, despite it being safe and fully operational in more than 40 other countries," Verizon wrote. The company states that 5G will help more than 90 million Americans experience a faster and more reliable network.

AT&T also blamed the government for inaction on 5G in a statement. The company wrote: "We continue to work with the aviation industry and the FAA to provide further information about our 5G deployment, since they have not utilized the two years they’ve had to responsibly plan for this deployment."

Biden said the delay "will avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery, while allowing more than 90 percent of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled. This agreement protects flight safety and allows aviation operations to continue without significant disruption and will bring more high-speed internet options to millions of Americans."

He called 5G expansion a "critical" priority which his team has been working "non-stop" on.