United}States§cnatc
WASHINGTON, DC 20510

November 18, 2019

Mr. Robert O’ Brien
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
The White House
1600PennsylvaniaAvenue, NW
WashingtonDC, 20006
Dear Mr. O’Brien,
Several leaderswithin the Executive Branch recently briefed the bipartisan leadership of
the SenateSelect Committee on Intelligence, the SenateCommittee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs, the SenateForeign Relations Committee, and the SenateArmed Services
Committee on the United States’ efforts to develop and deploy fifth generation (5G)
telecommunicationstechnologies.
As you may be aware, the United Statesand its allies are facing an unprecedented
security challenge with the current marketplace of 5G technologies. While the United Stateshas
led in the development and deployment of previous telecommunications evolutions, 5G
representsthe first evolutionary step for which an authoritarian nation leads the marketplace for
telecommunications solutions. China’s leadership, combined with the United States’ increased
reliance on high-speed, reliable telecommunications services to facilitate both commerce and
defense,poses a strategic risk for the country. We cannot rely exclusively on defensive
measuresto solve or mitigate the issue, but rather we must shapethe future of advanced
telecommunications technology by supporting domestic innovation through meaningfbl
investments, leveraging existing areas of U.S. strength, and bringing together like-minded allies
and private sector expertise through a sustainedeffort over the course of decades,not months. A
challenge of this magnitude requires a more ambitious responsethan traditional agency processes
can support.
While we appreciate the progress being made within and across departments and
agencies,we are concerned that their respective approaches are not informed by a coherent
national strategy. In our view, the current national level approach to 5G is comprised of a
dispersedcoalition of common concern, rather than a coordinated, interagency activity. Without
a national strategy, facilitated by a common understanding of the geopolitical and technical
impact of 5G and future telecommunications advancements,we expect each agency will
continue to operate within its own mandate,rather than identifying national authority and policy
deficiencies that do not neatly fall into a single department or agency. This fractured approach
will not be sufficient to rise to the challenge the country faces.

We hope that you, as the new National Security Adviser, will make this issue a top
priority. We would further urge you to designatea dedicated,senior individual focusedsolely on
coordinating and leading the nation’s effort to develop and deploy future telecommunications
technologies. We believe that having a senior leaderwould position the United Statesto lead on
telecommunications advancements, ensure the United Statesis appropriately postured against

 this strategic threat, and demonstrate to our allies the seriousness with which the nation considers
the issue.

We look forward to working with you as we consider additional authorities and resources
necessaryto addressan issue of this importance. We hope that you and your designatedlead on
5G issueswill continue to engagein a serious and frank dialogue with Congressabout what is
required to address this challenge.
Sincerely,

MoI e Vu,,
Richard Burr
Chairman
Select Committee on Intelligence

Mark R. Warner
Vice Chairman
Select Committee on Intelligence

Gary #,t,r,
RankiLg Member
Committee on Homeland Security
and GovernmentalAffairs

JamesRisch
Chairman
Foreign Relations Committee

Robert Menehez
Ranking Member
Foreign Relations Committee

g
JamesInhofe
Chairman
Armed Services Committee

Jack Reed
Ranking Member
Armed ServicesCommittee

cc: Mr. Lawrence Kudlow, Director of the National Economic Council