CCA Warns House Small Business Committee 5G Isn't 'Inevitable' for Many Rural Areas

Congress should include broadband in any infrastructure package, said Tim Donovan, Competitive Carriers Association senior vice president-legislative affairs, at a House Small Business Committee hearing Wednesday. Donovan warned 5G “is not inevitable,” especially in rural America. Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., said “for carriers both large and small, buildout in rural areas is often prohibitively expensive." After "30 years of building wireless networks,” some places still aren’t served because “there is not a business case to build out those networks with private capital alone,” Donovan said: The USF helps “but that’s not enough to close the size of the gap that we have.” Many small businesses “remain on the wrong side of a persistent digital divide,” he said. Donovan emphasized “reliable coverage maps” to help determine what areas aren’t served. “Members of this committee know that coverage is frequently overstated,” he said: “This is a cornerstone issue which must be addressed.” Donovan stressed the importance of funding, spectrum and deployment challenges. The Mobility Fund II program will pay for only part of the needed build out, he said.