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Trump Plan to "Nationalize" 5G a Half-Cooked Pipe Dream

A new report claims that the Trump administration is discussing nationalizing the nation's fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks in an attempt to fight Chinese hackers. A leaked PowerPoint deck and memo produced by a senior National Security Council official urges the government to finance and build a 5G network owned and operated by the government itself, then use that newfound ownership power to combat "malicious actors" like China in the "information domain." The plan proposes accomplishing all of this, somehow, within a three-year window.

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"The best way to do this, the memo argues, is for the government to build a network itself," the report states. "It would then rent access to carriers like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile."

The proposal is an unprecedented shift that doesn't seem likely to happen given likely incumbent carrier opposition to such a plan. The 5G standard and the construction of pre-standard trials worldwide is already well underway, and the United States government suddenly injecting itself into this process over vague natsec concerns seems impractical and unlikely.

Trump's own FCC boss Ajit Pai, a close ally of these incumbent players, was quick himself to issue a statement saying such an idea was off the table.

“I oppose any proposal for the federal government to build and operate a nationwide 5G network," Pai said. "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," Pai added.

Telecom lobbying groups like US Telecom, primarily funded by AT&T, also quickly shot down any such proposal.

"There is nothing that would slam the breaks more quickly on our hard-won momentum to be the leader in the global race for 5G network deployment more quickly than the federal government stepping-in to build those networks," claims the lobbying and policy group. "The best way to future-proof the nation’s communications networks is to continue to encourage and incentivize America’s broadband companies -- working hand-in-glove with the rest of the internet ecosystem, and in partnership with government, to continue do what we do best: invest, innovate, and lead."

In short, it seems like this is little more than a random pipe dream by a natsec advisor who doesn't understand the technical realities of 5G deployment, or the power wielded by companies like AT&T.

Most recommended from 108 comments



nycnetwork
join:2000-11-12
Brooklyn, NY

25 recommendations

nycnetwork

Member

Makes it easy for NSA...

.... to spy on all Americans through the centralized wireless network. Considering all IoT, appliances, self driving cars, it'll all go through the 5G grid.

This is beyond scary.

»www.politico.com/story/2 ··· p-293130

Ut98Ex
join:2012-07-11
Georgetown, TX

9 recommendations

Ut98Ex

Member

Take over of the internet!

Oh wait. Only democrats can take over the internet. Republicans pass this to make you "safe".

Anon119ee
@comcastbusiness.net

7 recommendations

Anon119ee

Anon

If Trump doesn't the Verizon/AT&T hegemony will

Govt monopoly, multi-billion dollar company monopoly. Small difference.

At least if you don't like your govt, you can vote them out.

Good luck trying to vote McAdam and Stephenson out of office.

tmh

Anon493c3
@rr.com

6 recommendations

Anon493c3

Anon

I thought Republicans were against socialism

Guess not. This is very worrying though, considering the government can now control everything connected to the network, rather than some devices. It would be easy

Anon167c7
@chtrptr.net

6 recommendations

Anon167c7

Anon

Pai doesn't seem keen on it

The chairman of the FCC issued a statement today against the notion of a 5G network built and operated by the government. “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,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said.

»www.fiercewireless.com/5 ··· chairman

dbennett1106
join:2000-05-28
Ukiah, CA

5 recommendations

dbennett1106

Member

Leak: Trump Wants to 'Nationalize' 5G Networks to Fight Hackers

How could this possible go wrong? Let me count the ways...

GlennLouEarl
3 brothers, 1 gone
Premium Member
join:2002-11-17
Richmond, VA

4 recommendations

GlennLouEarl

Premium Member

Alright now,

who said the feds don't like smokin' weed? Someone here definitely been into his stash.

Economist
The economy, stupid
Premium Member
join:2015-07-10
united state

4 recommendations

Economist

Premium Member

DSLR readers have been crying for a nationalized network...

Here we go and you still complain. Downvote away, hypocrites.
SArcanine
join:2009-11-09
New York

3 recommendations

SArcanine

Member

Wholesale model please

It would be awesome if this were built using a wholesale model like UTOPIA uses. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and anyone else willing to enter the market would be at parity immediately, forcing them to compete on price and customer service. O, the humanity.
AppFarmer
join:2016-05-24
Salinas, CA
·Charter

2 recommendations

AppFarmer

Member

The way it's presented here looks awful

Personally, I think that a single infrastructure for 5G (and 4G, etc) would be a great idea. But it doesn't have to be owned and operated by the government for security or any other reason. Private industry has always been faster and more flexible in such applications.

Rather, I think that the current system of divvying up airwaves does not benefit the consumer. Everyone has dead spots that are covered by someone else (even Verizon). My own idea is that the spectrum holders should pool it all into a holding company that itself would not sell to consumers but to the carriers. Essentially, all carriers would be MVNOs, even the big 4. It should be comparatively "simple" for a single company (rather than 4+) to blanket the country with 600-700MHz bands so that no customer would ever be without service. Then deploy higher bands as needed in more populous areas. Consumers benefit from continuous coverage. Carriers benefit from being able to provide continuous coverage.