A proposal in the Trump administration to nationalize (meaning the government builds it and controls it) a new 5G network has been unearthed over the weekend:

CNN – A National Security Council official presented senior members of the Trump’s administration with information suggesting that the United States needs to centralize its 5G network by the end of President Donald Trump’s first term as a safeguard against Chinese cybersecurity and economic threats. A PowerPoint presentation and memo obtained by Axios argue that a centralized 5G system would be easier to protect from cyberthreats. A White House official, however, said the memo reported by Axios is “dated” and “not representative of the administration’s thinking.” The official declined to provide further details. Government control of 5G infrastructure would be unprecedented and highly controversial, as the industry has traditionally been privately controlled.

While it may be ‘dated’, the FCC Chairman came out this morning and shot it down:

FCC head Ajit Pai says he opposes any proposal for the U.S. government to build a 5G network #tictocnews https://t.co/VeJmwCdy09 pic.twitter.com/5LP56MPXKW — TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) January 29, 2018







Here’s the tweet:

I oppose any proposal for the federal government to build and operate a nationwide 5G network. The market, not the government, is best positioned to drive innovation and investment. https://t.co/viIDB4mb0f pic.twitter.com/hgxRLtwoU4 — Ajit Pai (@AjitPaiFCC) January 29, 2018

The statement reads:

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai released the following statement on the future of 5G: “I oppose any proposal for the federal government to build and operate a nationwide 5G network. 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. What government can and should do is to push spectrum into the commercial marketplace and set rules that encourage the private sector to develop and deploy next-generation infrastructure. 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.”

As CNN points out…

Any 5G plan would require FCC approval, leaving the future of the Trump administration proposal in serious doubt.

Good. Kudos to Pai for standing on his principles and not letting national security arguments excuse a government takeover of US cellphone infrastructure.