Proposal for Government 5G Network Borderline 'Preposterous,' Says FCC's O'Rielly

Creating a national, government-sponsored wholesale 5G network makes no sense and wouldn’t work, blogged FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly Tuesday. President Donald Trump last month opposed a government-backed network in favor of private industry investment (see 1904120065). “This entire effort seems convoluted and borders on the preposterous,” O’Rielly said: “Just the notion of the U.S. moving away from the highly-successful, private-sector led approach that is responsible for our country’s premier position globally would be a serious misstep. In essence, it would throw a monkey wrench into one of the greatest success stories in the history of technology.” Among the problems with such a network is no spectrum band is available, he said. “In an ever-increasingly wireless world, each megahertz is being strenuously fought over,” he said: There's also “no way to require any provider to use a wholesale wireless network. Without a mandate, it means that any use will have to be completely voluntary.” The government also would have difficulty finding tower companies that could build the network and it would provide no guarantees of security, O’Rielly said. “For those worried about the communist Chinese government’s influence and resulting harmful effects, it is nearly impossible to see how hamstringing the U.S. market with a government-sponsored network will convince other countries to take similar action,” he said: “Shooting oneself in the foot rarely leads others to do the same.”