CTA, IPI Line Up in Opposition to DOD 5G Network

CTA opposes any DOD move to launch a nationalized 5G network, the association told the agency. “CTA respectfully urges the Department not to substitute the tried-and-true market-based model that has worked for decades with an untested top-down framework that would place America’s 5G leadership at risk,” said comments this week in response to a controversial DOD request for information (see 2010200055). “CTA’s members and other commercial actors are best situated to invest capital and innovate to meet communications needs, and to ensure that our networks remain secure and resilient. If allowed to do so, they will maintain America’s wireless leadership in the 5G era and beyond.” Institute for Policy Innovation research fellow Bartlett Cleland blogged Thursday that a government network isn’t the key to U.S. leadership on 5G. “DoD seems to be shockingly unaware of the extent of technological innovation and progress in this country and how it came to be,” he said: “The internet, broadband, wireless, online commerce, and innovation in general have made great progress, but not because of government ‘leadership,’ military or otherwise.” FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks were critical of a DOD-nationalized 5G network during Technology Policy Institute's virtual conference Thursday (see 2010220055). Carr said the idea seems to reflect beliefs several years out of date that the U.S. is falling behind China in 5G. In the past three years, "we have turned things around," he said.