National Security Experts: Additional 5G delays “a costly and avoidable mistake”

We’ve written about the dysfunction in Washington delaying efforts to get powerful new 5G networks fully online.  These networks are critical to America’s innovation culture and high tech leadership.

By now the FAA’s mischief on this issue has been widely exposed.  A recent Ars Technica report explained “FAA forced delay in 5G rollout despite having no proof of harm to aviation.”  UK spectrum regulator William Webb recently complained “there is no excuse for” the FAA’s 5G “blockade”.

And now a group of experienced National Security policymakers is sounding an additional warning – tying 5G delays to America’s long term role as tech and innovation leader worldwide.  They write “it would be a costly and avoidable mistake with profound consequences for U.S. economic competitiveness and national security interests to allow the dispute over spectrum policy to linger indefinitely.”

The FCC should heed the experts and move quickly forward with full 5G deployment – it’s an issue of national security as well as US leadership overall.