Biden in Broadband Land

Broadband expansion is at the top of Biden’s telecom to-do list. The president-elect’s transition website is now live, and universal broadband and modern infrastructure feature prominently in his vision for the country’s economic recovery and fight against climate change. Where does 5G fit into the equation? Most Americans have not yet experienced the super-fast 5G speeds that wireless giants have been promising for years as they work to keep pace with foreign competitors like China. US carriers don’t have the right airwaves or network architecture to really allow for widespread, robust 5G use just yet, a pitfall that poses an immediate challenge, and window of opportunity, for the next White House. Even in a divided Congress, 5G could be an area for bipartisan consensus, particularly in the middle of a pandemic when connectivity has become more of a lifeline than ever for many Americans.