SpaceX has confirmed that it is leasing Starlink satellite internet kits and services to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at no cost, while refuting claims that it is seeking to replace Verizon’s contract for modernizing the agency’s telecommunications infrastructure.
The aerospace company, led by Elon Musk, clarified that it is collaborating with L3Harris, the FAA’s current telecommunications contractor, to explore Starlink’s potential role in broader infrastructure upgrades.
“Starlink is a possible partial fix to an aging system. There is no effort or intent for Starlink to ‘take over’ any existing contract,” SpaceX stated in a post on X, Musk’s social media platform.
The company added that beyond the initial testing phase, it is working alongside L3Harris and the FAA to evaluate opportunities where Starlink could serve as a long-term solution to enhance aviation safety.
FAA Contract Dispute and Musk’s Criticism
Recent reports suggested that the FAA was considering scrapping Verizon’s $2.4 billion contract to overhaul the agency’s telecommunications system in favor of Starlink. Musk himself had publicly criticized Verizon before later acknowledging that L3Harris was responsible for the current infrastructure.
“To be clear here, the Verizon communication system to air traffic control is breaking down very rapidly,” Musk wrote on X last week. “The FAA assessment is single digit months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveler safety at serious risk.”
He later clarified that “the ancient system that is rapidly declining in capability was made by L3Harris.”
Conflict of Interest Concerns
The possibility of Starlink replacing Verizon has sparked concerns over potential conflicts of interest due to Musk’s extensive role in the Trump administration, where he has been leading cost-cutting initiatives within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In February, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that DOGE would play a role in aviation system upgrades, further raising questions about Musk’s influence over federal projects.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) has urged the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to call both Musk and acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau to testify about air traffic control technology, following a series of recent aviation incidents.
“Given Musk’s far-reaching role within the U.S. government and his recent involvement with the FAA’s information technology systems, his comments could understandably cause panic among air travelers,” Markey wrote in a letter to committee leaders.
While acknowledging the need for modernization, Markey criticized Musk’s warnings as “alarmist rhetoric,” arguing that they could unnecessarily stoke public fears.
As discussions continue over the future of the FAA’s telecommunications infrastructure, SpaceX maintains that its role in the project remains limited to testing and evaluation rather than a direct takeover of existing contracts.