Winning the Wireless Future

[Press release] I want the United States to win the 5G race. I outlined the Federal Communications Commission’s strategy for 5G leadership and delivering next-generation wireless connectivity to American consumers using a three-part approach: forward-thinking spectrum policy, modernized rules for infrastructure deployment, and light-touch network regulation.Today, I’m unveiling a lineup for the FCC’s March 22 open meeting that builds on this momentum.

Headlining the meeting will be a vital part of our 5G strategy: modernizing our rules to promote the wireless infrastructure of the future. I asked my colleague, Commissioner Brendan Carr, to lead the FCC’s effort to modernize our wireless infrastructure rules.  Thanks to his efforts, we’ll be voting on an order at our March meeting that would do just that.  Most importantly, it would find that the private sector’s deployment of certain small wireless facilities shouldn’t trigger federal historic preservation and environmental reviews.  Red tape like this is not only unnecessary for small cells, but also increases the cost and slows down the deployment of wireless networks.