Page 4 - aruba-today-20190413

A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 13 april 2019

FCC to hold big 5G auction, spend $20B for rural internet

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and rea but will take years. The approach to 5G Friday.
TALI ARBEL Federal Communications She said the U.S. has not
Associated Press Commission said Friday auctioned off “midband”
WASHINGTON (AP) — The that it would hold the larg- spectrum that is better
U.S. government will hold est auction in U.S. history to suited to serve rural areas
a massive auction later this boost wireless companies’ because of how far it can
year to bolster 5G service networks. The auction is set carry signals, and that the
, the next generation of for Dec. 10, and will be the Trump administration’s ac-
mobile networks. President agency’s third for 5G, said tions on 5G have “set us
Donald Trump showcased FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who back.” She cited tariffs on
the announcement Friday, joined Trump for the an- telecom equipment that
declaring that the race nouncement. have raised costs and
to stand up these faster, “We want Americans to said the administration has
more powerful networks is be the first to benefit from been “alienating allies” on
a competition “America this new digital revolution,” the 5G security issue.
must win.” President Donald Trump shakes hands with FCC chairman Ajit Pai said. The U.S. is jockey- The FCC also said Friday
“We cannot allow any Pai during an event on the deployment of 5G technology in the ing for position with China that it will be renewing an
other country to outcom- United States, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Friday, over 5G. It has effectively existing $2 billion broad-
pete the United States in April 12, 2019, in Washington. banned Chinese telecom band subsidy program,
this powerful industry of the Associated Press equipment maker Huawei for 10 years. It will provide
future,” Trump said at the 5G will mean faster wireless ble. But experts say it’s hard from most U.S. networks due about $20.4 billion over a
White House. “We are lead- speeds and has implica- to know now how much life to concerns that it might decade to providers, with
ing by so much in so many tions for technologies like will actually change be- enable Chinese govern- the goal of connecting up
different industries of that self-driving cars and aug- cause of the much-hyped ment spying, which Huawei to 4 million rural homes and
type, and we just can’t let mented reality. Trump said network upgrade. denies. The U.S. has pushed small businesses to high-
that happen.” it will transform the way It will take years to roll its allies to do the same, speed internet.
Trump also announced a people work, learn, com- out, and the highest data with mixed results . Huawei The agency spent $34.5
$20 billion plan to expand municate and travel, mak- speeds and capacities is the world’s largest maker billion on rural-broadband
broadband access to rural ing farms more productive, may not reach rural areas of such equipment. network subsidy programs
areas currently without it, a manufacturers more com- at all. FCC Commissioner Jessica from 2010 to 2017, accord-
decadelong extension of petitive and health care The rollout started last week Rosenworcel, a Democrat, ing to the Government Ac-
an existing program. better and more accessi- in the U.S. and South Ko- criticized the agency’s countability Office.q