5G is in reach. But only if we set the right policies.

A strong innovation economy could propel the United States’ economic growth and create countless jobs. Internet speeds could be 100 or even 1,000 times faster than 4G. And communities currently on the wrong side of the digital divide (especially lower-income urban and rural areas) could obtain quick connections for the first time. Other countries, especially China, are eager to seize these opportunities for themselves, confident that the first mover will claim the bulk of the benefits (as happened when the United States led on 4G). That’s why the White House is hosting a 5G summit Sept 28 to underscore the importance of this issue and of moving quickly.

What do we need to do to advance US leadership in 5G? I call it the 5G FAST Plan, which will “Facilitate American Superiority in 5G Technology.” The plan includes a few key components, including freeing up spectrum and promoting wireless infrastructure. Here are some of the ways the FCC is addressing each. We’ve scheduled the United States’ first two high-band 5G spectrum auctions, which will begin later in 2018, and we are on track to auction off three more bands in 2019. We’re also exploring how to re-purpose mid-band spectrum for new wireless applications, from rural broadband coverage to the next generation of Wi-Fi. Infrastructure policy is critical as well. We will never realize the 5G future if we impose federal, state, local and tribal regulatory burdens designed for large towers on every single small cell. That’s why the FCC has cut red tape for small cell deployment and will continue to enable companies to focus on fiber roll out, allowing them to upgrade fading copper networks and making it cheaper and easier to string fiber optic lines on utility poles. We can succeed and make countless consumers better off, but only if we choose to act boldly.