FSF Conference Keynote by Robin Colwell, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy

One of the many highlights of the Free State Foundation's Twelfth Annual Telecom Policy Conference held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on Tuesday, March 10, 2020: A keynote address by Robin Colwell, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy.

In her remarks, Ms. Colwell stressed the importance of broadband to the economy, innovation, and citizens' lives. She mentioned several pieces of relevant, pending legislation, including the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, the Secure 5G and Beyond Act, and the Broadband DATA Act. And she discussed administration efforts to close the digital divide, such as the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and the USDA's ReConnect Program.

On the topic of 5G, she assured that "the Administration is pushing aggressively on all fronts to ensure American leadership" and laid out three primary goals: deploying 5G rapidly using a free enterprise-driven approach; promoting security in all aspects of 5G networks worldwide; and maintaining American leadership in 5G research and development.

Ms. Colwell also praised the FCC's recent C-band Order as "a huge step in the right direction" in making critical mid-band spectrum available to the wireless industry.

Finally, she noted that a Presidential Summit on 5G Innovation is scheduled to take place in April.

Ms. Colwell's prepared remarks can be accessed here.