Steve Moore: The 5G global technology race is vital for our future – Here’s how America can still win it
1 min read
The Federal Communications Commission has thrown a curveball into the global race for deployment of 5G — the much-anticipated fifth generation of cellular and wireless technology.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has announced his support for a government-run auction of an underutilized 500-megahertz space on the electronic spectrum that cellphone carriers like AT&T and Verizon need to deliver 5G wireless services. […]
It had been widely believed that this valued spectrum now under lease by the satellite companies and others would be transferred to the cellular communications companies through a quasi-private auction. The revenues from this auction of unused spectrum rights are estimated at between $10 billion and $30 billion.
This latest policy shift by the feds potentially raises two concerns that the FCC will need to address if it moves forward on this path. […]