In the global race to 5G, it is imperative that U.S. policymakers,
wireless carriers, and technology leaders work together to ensure U.S. economic
and national security, according to a new white paper issued on June 18 by the
Arlington, VA-based Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA).
The National Security Challenges of
Fifth Generation (5G) Wireless Communications: Winning the Race to 5G, Securely,
discusses how Chinese dominance of the market for 5G equipment undermines U.S.
economic and national security and calls for incentives to bolster U.S.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) manufacturers. The paper offers
six key recommendations that government and private sector should take to
develop a 5G network compatible with U.S. national security interests and to
promote investment in U.S. ICT and wireless innovation.
The INSA paper notes the risks of relying upon Chinese-manufactured
equipment for the United States’ 5G infrastructure, including the potential
theft of U.S. intellectual property and national security information, sabotage
of civilian critical infrastructure, and the inability of U.S. military forces
and government agencies to communicate and operate securely. In a larger
context, the report finds that Chinese dominance of the equipment that may
serve as the world’s information backbone challenges the United States’
traditional position as the global leader in technology innovation – a dynamic
that could undermine U.S. companies’ competitiveness and reverberate throughout
the economy.
“As the U.S. economy becomes increasingly dependent on data-intensive
technology, it will be critical that U.S. communications and data transmissions
be kept secure,” said Chuck Alsup, INSA president. “In addition to
installing reliable 5G equipment in the United States, we may need to better
adapt current technologies and develop new technologies that enable secure
communications on insecure networks overseas.”
The report recommends the following steps:
- The White House must promote government-industry collaboration on
steps to mitigate the national security risks.
- To understand foreign threats to U.S. communications, the
Intelligence Community should assess foreign strategies for influencing
U.S. 5G wireless infrastructure and IoT applications, including
scrutinizing proposed technology acquisitions.
- Overseas, the United States should continue urging allies and partners
to ban Chinese 5G equipment from their telecom networks and, where that
fails, design technical solutions that enable U.S. forces and government
agencies to operate securely.
- The White House should create a White House Public-Private Working
Group to define U.S. Trade Policy and Strategy regarding wireless
technology and innovation, including 5G and IoT applications.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) should update
policies and regulations to remove barriers to rapid deployment of 5G and
to make more radio spectrum available.
- Congress should develop legislation to expand U.S. private sector
investment in ICT and wireless innovation.
“Ensuring long-term telecommunications security will require
collaboration between U.S. government agencies and private sector companies, as
well as their counterparts in allied countries,” said Alsup. “Public-private
partnership is essential to the development of a resilient and secure 5G infrastructure.”
Download the white paper
Source: INSA
By Loren Blinde
June 20, 2019
