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Opinion: Streamlined regulations will speed 5G deployment

By Rep. Dan Shaul

If you haven’t heard of 5G yet, you will. This game-changing new wireless communications technology is going to revolutionize the way we do business, manage our homes, and run our cities. Communities across Missouri need to follow the lead of the state legislature and do everything possible to make sure we are ready to receive the benefits of 5G.

Perhaps the biggest 5G advantage will be in economic development, an especially important issue for me. Fostering growth in Jefferson County, where I represent, will be easier with 5G, attracting an estimated $5 billion in investment to Missouri and supporting more than 8,700 new jobs a year.

We took legislative action last session to streamline the wireless infrastructure processes to help facilitate 5G deployment. That measure is set to take effect on August 28, making it easier for Missouri communities to lay the necessary foundation for 5G.

Community leaders still have a role to play, as do leaders in our nation’s capital. Our legislation alone won’t make 5G happen overnight. In fact regulatory hurdles elsewhere, could force us to wait longer. That’s why the Federal Communications Commission in particular needs to streamline wireless infrastructure processes across the board. As a result, we’ll all be on a better footing to reap the benefits.  

5G is going to be big; we need to roll out the welcome mat to bring it to Missouri and across the nation.

Shaul is a Republican from Imperial, representing the 113th Missouri House District in the General Assembly.