Wireless industry calls on Trump to oppose efforts to nationalize 5G amid Pentagon push

The wireless industry on Tuesday urged President Trump to oppose any efforts to nationalize the 5G network infrastructure following the Pentagon’s recent engagements with telecommunications companies.

Groups that represent wireless telecommunication companies said a move toward 5G would be “at odds with more than a century of private sector-led innovation and investment in communications networkers.” 

The letter was signed by seven groups, including The Wireless Association, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, and NCTA – The Internet and Telephone Association.

“We need to ensure that a competitive, free market remains and supports the private-sector deployment of 5G networks to ensure American networks continue to be the gold standard worldwide,” the groups wrote.

The Pentagon has recently put out a request for information (RFI) that seeks input from wireless carriers on 5G.

Two top Democrats on Friday launched an inquiry into the RFI as well as reports that the White House informed the Pentagon to “proceed immediately” to what’s known as a request for proposal, signaling movement beyond a RFI.

In their letters to the administration, the Democrats cited wireless company Rivada, which retains Karl Rove as a lobbyist, as the company that would benefit from this shift in spectrum policy.

That move followed a letter to Trump from a group of 19 Republican senators expressing concerns about the RFI, saying they felt it contradicted a free-market strategy. That letter did not mention Rivada, Rove or the other political operatives with close ties to Trump.