Dem pushes FCC to secure 5G networks

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on Wednesday urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take action to secure U.S. fifth-generation wireless networks, or 5G, against cyber threats.

Wyden warned in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai that vulnerabilities in past 3G and 4G networks that left them open to hacking could occur in 5G networks if action is not taken to secure them. He also strongly advocated for wireless carriers to use encryption to secure user data.

“The FCC must stop leaving the cybersecurity of American consumers, businesses and government agencies to wireless carriers, and finally secure America’s next-generation 5G networks against interception and hacking by criminals and foreign spies,” Wyden wrote.

Wyden pressed Pai on whether the FCC supports encrypting all text messages and phone calls to help prevent security breaches and whether the FCC chair would support a third-party assessment being done to understand the security of wireless carriers’ networks, such as AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.