Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz has urged US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to investigate potential Chinese interference in Congress’s decision on renewing the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) authority to auction wireless spectrum.
The FCC lost its broad auction authority in 2023, and lawmakers are currently considering legislation to reinstate it. Cruz warned that China is aggressively working to dominate global telecommunications by advancing technologies like 5G and 6G. He argued that failing to act swiftly could lead to China’s Huawei shaping the future of global communication networks.
“Freeing up spectrum for commercial use in the United States is not just important for our economic growth; it is critically important for our global leadership,” Cruz emphasized in a letter viewed by Reuters. He also suggested that a new spectrum auction could generate $100 billion or more.
The call for an investigation adds to ongoing US measures against Chinese telecom firms, with previous actions by the FCC blocking Chinese companies from providing telecommunications services in the US due to national security concerns.
Neither the Chinese Embassy nor Gabbard’s office responded to requests for comment. Similarly, Huawei has not issued a statement regarding the claims.
