According to Bloomberg, big businesses are dominating the fight over the internet’s future. This is especially evident as the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC), which was designed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help decide the outcome of high-speed internet advances, will meet to decide the outcome of 5G.
With guidance from BDAC, the FCC could make rules that “will influence how 5G mobile internet is priced, how quickly is spreads around the country, and whether local governments must subsidize the cost,” Bloomberg says. The goal of 5G technology is to replace current wireless technology, ultimately making it easier to stream high-definition video and make new apps usable.
Bloomberg also says that Big Telecom influence has already leaked into state capitols; dozens of states, “mostly with Republican stronghold,” have passed laws with language akin to BDAC. U.S. lawmakers are following suit with their own legislation, according to Bloomberg.
What this means for decision makers:
Similar to other moves in legislation, all decision makers can do at this point is to wait and see what happens. This is especially true for decision makers whose businesses or institutions are located in states that are already making moves with 5G.
One thing decision makers might see in their respective state is a debacle over “shot clocks.” For example, according to Bloomberg, within the ongoing battle about 5G technology, certain cities and corporate representatives kept arguing about the prices for installing 5G beacons on government properties, including streetlights. Because of this, companies and the FCC were interested in “shot clocks,” a basketball metaphor “that would automatically give carriers permission” to install those beacons if the negotiations weren’t resolved within certain time. Tech advisors, telecom consultants and others have argued that instituting shot clocks for decision making were unfair, and were skewed in favor of wireless companies.
As a result, decision makers should ride out the political commotion and see where and how rules about 5G and other internet solutions are made. Once those are set, decision makers can then evaluate how their business or institution will be affected by the changes, and proceed with internal changes from there.
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