Media Contact: 
Tina Pelkey, (202) 418-0536
tina.pelkey@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI ON THE FUTURE OF 5G
WASHINGTON, January 29, 2018—Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai 
released the following statement on the future of 5G:
“I oppose any proposal for the federal government to build and operate a nationwide 5G 
network.  The main lesson to draw from the wireless sector’s development over the past three 
decades—including American leadership in 4G—is that the market, not government, is best 
positioned to drive innovation and investment.  What government can and should do is to push 
spectrum into the commercial marketplace and set rules that encourage the private sector to 
develop and deploy next-generation infrastructure.  Any federal effort to construct a 
nationalized 5G network would be a costly and counterproductive distraction from the policies 
we need to help the United States win the 5G future.”
###
Office of Chairman Ajit Pai: (202) 418-2000
Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC
www.fcc.gov/leadership/ajit-pai
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).