FCC chairman Ajit Pai has announced a plan to put the US at the forefront of 5G. The 5G Fast Plan, short for Facilitate America's Superiority in 5G Technology, contains three main points: pushing more spectrum into the marketplace, promoting 5G infrastructure, and modernizing outdated regulations. The announcement comes ahead of one set to be made by the White House later today. Under the plan, the FCC intends to start its third 5G spectrum auction on 10 December. The auction will sell 3,400 MHz in three different spectrum bands.
Pai also announced his intent to create the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, a fund that will invest USD 20.4 billion into high-speed broadband networks in rural America over the next decade. The fund will provide money through a reverse auction to service providers that will deploy infrastructure to unserved areas. Pai said the idea is to close the digital divide.
