Sen Kennedy, President Trump Talk 5G Airwaves

Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-LA) talked on the phone with President Donald Trump to outline his views on the Federal Communications Commission’s pending decision on how to get the coveted 5G-ready airwaves known as the C-band into wireless providers’ hands. Sen Kennedy said the conversation was positive. Sen Kennedy also met with FCC staff on spectrum auctioning, as the lawmaker had intended. Sen Kennedy wants to persuade President Trump that an FCC-run auction is the way to go instead of the private sale that satellite incumbents are seeking (a private sale would be faster for getting these airwaves out for 5G, they argue, but critics worry about likely litigation and less cash going to the American public). Although the FCC is an independent agency not subject to White House command, Trump has not been shy about voicing his preferences on plenty of issues facing such agencies. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has said he wants to make a decision on the matter this fall. 

Not all lawmakers share Kennedy’s appetite for intervention. Senate GOP Whip John Thune (R-SD) has said the issue belongs to the Commerce Committee, where he chairs the telecom subcommittee. “We would like to let that take its course” at the FCC, said Chairman Thune. “We obviously want to work with [Kennedy] and see if we can satisfy some of his concerns. We think the key is to get as much of that spectrum made available for commercial use as fast as possible, and we think the FCC has the same interest.” But House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Biggs (R-AZ) endorsed Kennedy's views. He tweeted at President Trump that an "FCC-led public auction best supports free enterprise, competition, and transparency while fully protecting the American Taxpayer."