Trumpian discourse makes its way into the spectrum world

It has been just over a week since FCC commissioner Michael O’Rielly suggested removing US funding from the ITU unless it reformed and gave the US more influence over its processes. He suggested it was overrun by authoritarian governments and called for a “fundamental overhaul”.

The Trump administration is often criticised as isolationist and here’s what that agenda might look like if applied to the spectrum world. Unsurprisingly, every national and regional administration we contacted declined to comment publicly.

There’s nothing new in robust arguments among ITUThe International Telecommunication U... members but what this really comes down to is US disappointment about the outcome of WRC-15 and the developments since – mainly in the 28 GHz and 26 GHz stakes. The US was confident it would take the lead in 5G by allocating 28 GHz for mobile, even though the ITU members agreed to study 26 GHz. The lack of wide support for mobile in the C-Band and in the lower part of the UHF band was also a setback for the US.

And the US continues not to get its own way. 26 GHz has since gained traction in major markets like Europe and China and most recently Africa. Rather than following the US and South Korea down their study “side path”, these players chose to stay within the ITU process.

Off the record, most people agree on two things: firstly, there must be significant discontent with the ITU in the US Republican party for O’Rielly to make these comments.

Secondly, O’Rielly is far less involved in ITU matters than he was in 2015. Rather than seeking reform of the organisation, he is playing to a domestic audience with some Trump-lite finger pointing and bellicose words aimed at “the outsider”.