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Beyond the Rhetoric

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The term “5G” is often used to describe the fastest wireless speed available. When Super Bowl cities are selected the cities must comply with 5G wireless availability. 5G is the state of art in terms of modern technology. It is often misused and misunderstood. We should get very clear as to just what the term 5G means.

According to WhatIs.techtaraget.com: 5G is the coming fifth-generation wireless broadband technology based on the IEEE 802.11ac standard. An important goal of 5G is to erase the differences between wireline and wireless networking to accommodate the growing mobility of network users.

5G will provide better speeds and coverage than the current 4G.

5G operates with a 5Ghz signal and is set to offer speeds of up to 1 Gb/s for tens of connections or tens of Mb/s for tens of thousands of connections. 5G also increases network expandability up to hundreds of thousands of connections.

The signal technology of 5G has also been improved for greater coverage as well as spectral and signaling efficiency. These improvements stand to further enable changes like pervasive computing and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Although 5G is not scheduled for launch until 2020, some manufacturers are already incorporating elements of the coming standard’s specifications into their products.

There are three prongs promoting the evolution of 5G. The first prong is the combination of industrial giants such as the Telecoms and state sponsored companies from Singapore, China, etc. (above). Another prong is that of our government. The FCC is guiding this in one direction at the favor of the White House, Congress, and various committees. Here is the list of the committees:

Advisory committees provide federal departments and agencies with access to expertise and advice on a broad range of issues affecting policies and programs. The public, in return, is afforded an opportunity to provide input into a process that may form the basis for government decisions. Most advisory committees at the FCC are established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 92-463). Other advisory groups are either exempted from FACA by Congress or are task forces not subject to FACA.

Current Advisory Committees Established Under FACA

•   Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee

•   Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council

•   Consumer Advisory Committee

•   Disability Advisory Committee

•   Diversity and Digital Empowerment

•   North American Numbering Council

•   Technological Advisory Council

•   World Radiocommunication Conference

Advisory Groups, Task Forces, and Other Groups Not Subject to FACA

•   Connect2HealthFCC Task Force

•   Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Services

•   Intergovernmental Advisory Committee

Previous Advisory Committees and Groups

•   Diversity Federal Advisory Committee

•   Downloadable Security Technology Advisory Committee

•   Emergency Access Advisory Committee

•   Emergency Response

Interoperability Center (ERIC) Technical Advisory Committee

•   Open Internet Advisory Committee

•   Task Force on Optimal Public Safety Answering Point Architecture

•   Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee

The third prong is that of CYBER SECURITY THREATS. This is an ongoing threat to the national security of each nation. Hacking and espionage is ongoing and should be assumed that attempts against secure operations will always exist.

In addition, there are numerous voluntary groups and initiatives that pursue new techniques and efforts in the promotion of 5G wireless. All these groups and efforts will move the effort forward and improve the quality of speed and effectiveness.

Harry C. Alford is co-founder, president/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce®. Website: www.nationalbcc.org Email: halford@nationalbcc.org

DISCLAIMER: The beliefs and viewpoints expressed in

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