Federal Government Information Technology

FCC, Telecom Industry Slam Idea of Government-Built 5G Network

Nextgov: The release of a purported National Security Council presentation pushing the national security benefits of a government-built 5G network led to outrage and general bewilderment from internet, infrastructure and communications specialists, including members of the Federal Communications Commission.

“The main lesson to draw from the wireless sector’s development over the past three decades—including American leadership in 4G—is that the market, not government, is best positioned to drive innovation and investment,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a Jan. 29 statement opposing the idea, just hours after the presentation was posted on Axios. “Any federal effort to construct a nationalized 5G network would be a costly and counterproductive distraction from the policies we need to help the United States win the 5G future.”

Read article