Pallone, Doyle Question Legality of DOD RFI on 3.45-3.55 GHz
House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., began an inquiry Friday into DOD’s recent request for information on dynamic spectrum sharing of the 3.45-3.55 GHz band (see 2009210056). "We have heard reports that…
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the suddenness of this request and the short turnaround timeframe have been prompted directly by senior White House Officials," the lawmakers said in a letter to acting NTIA Administrator Adam Candeub. "We have also heard reports that the White House has instructed" DOD "to proceed immediately to a Request for Proposal" in a bid to "move forward toward a national 5G network." News reports indicate "several political operatives or lobbyists with close ties to President [Donald] Trump or his staff," including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., Rivada adviser and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale and Trump tech sector ally Peter Thiel, "are pushing for the seismic shift in spectrum policy contemplated by the RFI," the lawmakers said. "These reports also suggest these Republican operatives are working for the benefit of" Rivada, "which has long championed a national network that Rivada would construct and operate using its sharing technology.” Pallone and Doyle also asked GAO to "evaluate whether" DOD "has the legal authority to construct, operate, or maintain a commercial communications network or lease" its spectrum "to private entities to provide commercial communications" service: They believe DOD "has limited or no legal authority to do so." The lawmakers earlier raised concerns about the RFI, as did Republican senators and multiple conservative groups (see 2010070045). NTIA confirmed it received the letter. Rivada emphasized it "does not believe in vampires, and it does not support nationalizing" 5G. "We keep hearing that someone, somewhere, wants to nationalize" 5G, and "often, that goal is attributed to Rivada, but we know that isn't true," the company said in a statement. Rivada launched Americans Against Nationalization Thursday to "direct attention to, and expose, any attempts by government to nationalize anything. It will also expose any fraud trying to fake claims of 'nationalization' as these are an insult to the very real victims of nationalization throughout the world." Private-sector "solutions and free-market principles are critical to ensuring America leads in 5G, and it’s important to take a hard look at the dangers of nationalizing our wireless networks," said CTIA Senior Vice President-Government Affairs Kelly Cole. GAO didn't comment.