4 Senate Committees' Leaders Urge Trump Administration to Appoint 5G Policy Coordinator

Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said at a recent hearing he believes the Trump administration and FCC are finally unified on 5G strategy and related spectrum issues (see 1910310067). “While we appreciate the progress being made within and across departments and agencies, we are concerned that their respective approaches are not informed by a coherent national strategy,” Johnson and other committees' leaders wrote White House national security affairs assistant Robert O'Brien. “In our view, the current national level approach to 5G comprises of a dispersed coalition of common concern, rather than a coordinated, interagency activity.” Others signing the letter are: Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C.; Senate Armed Services Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla.; Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Bob Menendez, D-N.J.; Senate Homeland Security ranking member Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Armed Services ranking member Jack Reed, D-R.I.; Foreign Relations Chairman James Risch, R-Idaho; and Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va. “Without a national strategy, facilitated by a common understanding of the geopolitical and technical impact of 5G and future telecommunications advancements, we expect each agency will continue to operate within its own mandate, rather than identifying national authority and policy deficiencies that do not neatly fall into a single department or agency,” the senators said. “This fractured approach will not be sufficient to rise to the challenge the country faces.” Having “a senior leader would position the United States to lead on telecommunications advancements, ensure the United States is appropriately postured against this strategic threat, and demonstrate to our allies the seriousness with which the nation considers the issue,” they said.