FAA Says It Will Commit $6 Billion to Air Traffic Control Modernization by Dec. 31

Issues with the Federal Aviation Administration’s aging telecom infrastructure have led to a series of critical communications blackouts at Newark Airport.
FAA Says It Will Commit $6 Billion to Air Traffic Control Modernization by Dec. 31
A plane passes an air traffic control tower during takeoff at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport in Minneapolis on Nov. 7, 2025. Tim Evans/Reuters
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to commit $6 billion by the end of the year to upgrades to the nation’s air traffic control telecommunications infrastructure and radar systems, which it plans to deploy by the end of 2028, the agency’s administrator said on Dec. 17.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford testified to Congress on Wednesday to give updates on the agency’s progress in its ambitious three- to four-year air traffic control upgrade and modernization project, which will include the United States investing in replacing old copper telecommunication lines, decades-old radar systems, and implementing ground surveillance technology on runways.
Jacob Burg
Jacob Burg
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Jacob Burg reports on national politics, aerospace, and aviation for The Epoch Times. He previously covered sports, regional politics, and breaking news for the Sarasota Herald Tribune.