EXPERT QUOTES
Learn what leading policymakers and experts have to say about the need for more licensed spectrum.
“Difficult and complex as any transition might be, the United States cannot afford to lag China in allocating mid-band spectrum to the new uses 5G will provide. The United States must find ways to allocate sufficient amounts for licensed spectrum for 5G while supporting other national security priorities not to fall behind.”
James Lewis
Senior Vice President, Pritzker Chair and Director, Strategic Technologies Program, CSIS
“We need more 5G spectrum to meet increasing data demand, support new innovation and enable the speeds and capacity necessary to fuel future innovation. More full-powered, exclusive-licensed spectrum is key to both our economic and national security. Letting auction authority lapse sent the wrong signal to the rest of the world. We need to restore it quickly with a defined set of new auctions.”
Meredith Attwell Baker
President & CEO, CTIA
“We are increasingly dependent on wireless networks […] We need to do more to make sure that they’re reliable and secure. And the truth of it is it’s not just America but our allies — we have to make sure our allies have options for their wireless networks which are secure but frankly also affordable.”
Gina Raimondo
Secretary of Commerce
“To support the next-generation of wireless connectivity, we must work together to free up more spectrum—and especially mid-band airwaves. Because it offers an ideal blend of capacity and coverage, this spectrum is key to delivering on the promise of 5G services and ensuring that it reaches as many people as possible. The bottom line is we need mid-band deployment at scale to foster invention in the new 5G spectrum frontier.”
Jessica Rosenworcel
Chairwoman, FCC
“When in comes to the 5G economy and spectrum blocks for driving the economy, nothing can replace that. We need a sufficient supply of large high-power spectrum blocks, and that is a winning strategy.”
Brendan Carr
Commissioner, FCC
“We need to make sure we have a robust pipeline and that means we need to have a robust spectrum strategy to get there.”
Alan Davidson
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, NTIA
“From expanding economic opportunity, protecting our environment, and more.. A big part of what we need to do is make more spectrum available for commercial use.”
Derek Khlopin
Deputy Associate Administrator, Spectrum Planning and Policy, NTIA
“We take very seriously the ongoing challenge of spectrum scarcity, which we hear a lot about. We fully recognize the need for a national spectrum strategy…”
Brian Deese
Director, National Economic Council
“5G is the next iteration of how we can move much speedier in wireless telecommunications. But its biggest breakthrough is in the internet of things – smart cities, cleaner energy – which requires wireless communications in real time.”
Mark Warner
Senator (D-VA)
“Releasing commercial spectrum is going to be key in our [U.S.] competitiveness and unleashing new technologies.”
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Representative (R-WA)
“It is imperative to free up mid-band spectrum in order to facilitate the development of next-generation communications technologies, which will in turn create more jobs and opportunities for economic growth.”
Yvette Clark
Representative (D-NY)
“By coordinating between federal agencies and with private partners, the government can be more efficient with the spectrum we have and create the framework we need to get more commercial users valuable access to this limited resource.”
Doris Matsui
Representative (D-CA)
“Failing to extend the FCC’s auction authority would be an unforced error that could hobble America in the global race to 5G, stunt our economic growth, harm consumers and undermine national security.”
Mignon Clyburn
Former Acting FCC Chairwoman
Robert M. McDowell
Former FCC Commissioner
“America needs a national strategy to make sure there is enough spectrum to build out 5G networks and not fall behind China.”
Mike Rogers
Former Representative from Michigan
“5G promises to be one of the fastest technologies the world has ever seen, but again the country needs more spectrum to realize these aspirations. Successfully closing the digital divide also requires more spectrum in the licensed and unlicensed spaces.”
Nicol Turner Lee
Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
“Additional spectrum, particularly licensed mid-band spectrum that provides the performance necessary to support large-scale wireless networks, is needed for the United States to continue to lead and grow the 5G economy.”
Val Ebert
Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group
“The inability to provide adequate capacity to support projected usage growth would lead to poor customer experience, network overload, and otherwise risk forfeiting U.S. leadership in 5G and beyond.”
Dr. Coleman Bazelon
Principal, The Brattle Group
“This report confirms that the wireless industry is a major driver of America’s economy. The substantial investments made by wireless providers, both to acquire spectrum licenses and on their network infrastructure, has translated to significant benefits to the U.S. economy.”
Aren Megerdichian, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President, Compass Lexecon
“More licensed mid-band spectrum is needed to meet growing wireless network demand. Commercial access to the bands described in our study would help scale 5G, giving more people access to consistent and good internet connectivity needed for things like online schooling, remote work and telemedicine.”
Tejas Rao
Managing Partner, Accenture
“In updating this study, we again took a big-picture look at potential spectrum availability that other countries currently have and are considering. Our work makes clear that the U.S. lags in licensed mid-band spectrum, critical to fuel 5G innovation.”
Janette Stewart
Partner, Analysys Mason
“The U.S. should foster rapid 5G deployment by continuing to make spectrum available to commercial wireless… particularly licensed, particularly mid-band.”