Episode 17: Telecoms and National Security

We are joined by our colleague, Charles Mathias, former Deputy Chief in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, to discuss national security and the telecommunications industry. We cover cybersecurity, supply chain risks, and the overlap of the FCC Covered List (which designates entities that pose an unacceptable risk to national security) with the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Section 889 prohibitions on certain telecommunications equipment and services. We explore the FCC’s  “rip and replace” program under the Secure Networks Act. Finally, in a wide ranging technology discussion, we discuss Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) and cybersecurity concerns, why the rollout of 5G in the United States still has a ways to go, and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications (SATCOM) network bringing connectivity to unconnected areas of the planet.