House GOP Spectrum Giveaway Would Punch a Gaping Hole in U.S. National Defenses, Sen Cantwell Warns

Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) condemned House Republicans’ spectrum auction plan as they advance it to the House floor as part of their reconciliation bill. The senator’s latest warning that the plan could jeopardize U.S. national defense and aviation safety systems came following a Trump social media post yesterday insisting the Republican majority auction 600 MHz regardless of concerns. “National Security and Defense Republicans and Democrats were adamant last year that DoD spectrum couldn’t be given away because of the national security implications,” Sen. Cantwell said. “The House plan to sell 600 MHz of spectrum would punch a gaping hole in our defenses. The last time the Trump Administration rushed a spectrum auction, it fumbled badly, triggering 5G interference that grounded flights and jeopardized critical DoD systems. We can’t afford a replay of those failures.”?