Watchdog Slams Sen. Inhofe for Jeopardizing FCC Nomination

For Immediate Release
July 28, 2020
Contact: Grace Morgan
(202-855-4380)

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) slammed Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) for threatening to block the nomination of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Mike O’Rielly. Chairman Inhofe has been critical of the FCC’s decision to allow Ligado Networks to construct a low-power nationwide 5G network and is attempting to force the agency’s hand in reversing course. Inhofe recently declared: “I am holding Commissioner O’Rielly’s nomination until he publicly states that he will vote to overturn the current Ligado Order.”

TPA President David Williams slammed the SASC Chairman, noting, “in his reckless quest to force the FCC to change course, Chairman Inhofe is jeopardizing 5G services for millions of Americans. The FCC’s support for allocating more spectrum to 5G internet services will allow providers to help close the digital divide and keep Americans connected. Freeing the L-Band for internet use will help taxpayers and allow providers to build resilient 5G networks capable of supporting lightning-fast digital services and cutting-edge applications such as internet-of-things applications. But unfortunately, Chairman Inhofe has chosen to prioritize misguided Pentagon concerns over fast, reliable internet services.”

Williams continued: “Chairman Inhofe’s threats to block the nomination of Commissioner O’Rielly will do nothing to keep America safe.  Federal agencies – including the Department of Defense (DoD) – are scaring lawmakers into thinking that Americans will face diminished access to Global Positioning System (GPS) services as a result of proposed spectrum allocations. But there’s no evidence whatsoever for the DoD’s charges and the FCC has put forward ample evidence that 5G and applications such as GPS can exist in harmony. Unfortunately, the Pentagon’s concerns are just the latest in a longstanding pattern in spectrum proceedings of federal agencies claiming without evidence that spectrum use by internet providers will harm government initiatives. The FCC has rightly weighed all the evidence and will continue to assess potential harms to critical services such as GPS. But the evidence is clear that spectrum use for 5G will bolster, not harm, the digital domain.”

Williams concluded: “Since 2017, the FCC has taken important steps to reduce barriers to internet access and pave the way for 5G networks across America. Commissioner O’Rielly has been an important part of that process, providing an invaluable voice in favor of regulatory reform.  Freeing up the L-Band for 5G use is the next, critical hurdle in the race to 5G and blocking his nomination would spell disaster for millions of households and businesses. Chairman Inhofe needs to stop playing games with this process and allow the FCC commissioners to continue to bolster digital innovation. We thank Commissioner O’Rielly for his principled leadership in helping keep the country connected and urge lawmakers to stand behind him and the FCC.”

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