On July 19, co-founders and co-chairs of the House 5G Caucus, Rep. Susan Brooks (IN-5) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-12), hosted a 5G technology showcase on Capitol Hill. The collaborative event convened private companies like Samsung, industry associations such as CTIA and congressional decision-makers to educate members of Congress about the state of 5G and how this next generation of wireless technology will transform America.

During remarks to attendees, Samsung’s John Godfrey emphasized the importance of 5G strategy in business growth.

“Samsung has been at the forefront of pioneering 5G technology for many years now, but this is the year of commercial launch,” said John Godfrey, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at Samsung. Looking around the room, Godfrey said, “This is exactly what we need, for Congress and the government to move ahead on spectrum and infrastructure deployment so that 5G innovation can really thrive here in America.”

Several examples of Samsung’s 5G progress were shared at the event, including:

In her remarks, Rep. Susan Brooks (IN-5) noted, “These milestones cannot happen in a private-sector vacuum. It’s up to us, as Members of Congress and our staffs, to learn from you, to partner with you, to make sure that you have the tools, to move this forward.”

Industry partners like the CTIA reiterated the importance of collaboration throughout the event.

“For the last 10 years we have spent all our time trying to connect everyone, and for the next few years, we are going to connect everything,” said CTIA President and CEO Meredith Baker. “Every company is going to have to have a 5G strategy if they want to be relevant in the future.”

Rep. Brooks recommitted to supporting the technology’s deployment both in Congress and through more experiential showcases in the future.

She continued, telling the crowd of industry leaders: “I’ve been on farms in Indiana where precision agriculture is not the future, it’s here now. I have seen how telehealth can help with mental health needs of students in rural areas. I know we have self-driving cars being tested in communities all around the country. We have to learn from you about what you need. We know we need more spectrum, we know that we need to have the infrastructure in place, both in the rural areas, but in the urban areas as well, to make sure that 5G can be a reality.”