WASHINGTON-A U.S. congressman representing California, home state of Qualcomm-the developer of CDMA technology-is urging lawmakers to sign onto a letter to the Department of Defense to deploy CDMA technology, not GSM networks, in post-war Iraq.
“I urge you to sign on to a letter to Defense Secretary [Donald] Rumsfeld and to Ambassador Wendy Chamberlain with the United States Agency for International Development to urge them to deploy U.S.-developed CDMA cell-phone technology instead of GSM, a French-developed standard, in post-war Iraq. At this time, they are planning to deploy GSM technology,” reads the “Dear Colleague” letter from Republican Darrell Issa to members of Congress. “As you may know CDMA cell-phone technology is technically superior to European GSM technology.”
Issa gave his colleagues until 26 March to sign onto the letter.
“If European GSM technology is deployed in Iraq, much of the equipment used to build the cell-phone system will be manufactured in France by Alcatel, in Germany by Siemens, and elsewhere in Western and Northern Europe. Therefore, if our understanding of this situation is correct, because of ill-considered planning, the U.S. government will soon hand U.S. taxpayer dollars over to French, German, and other European cell-phone equipment companies to build the new Iraqi cell-phone system. This is not acceptable,” reads the letter Issa is urging his colleagues to sign.
At least one U.S.-based carrier that deploys GSM technology was not amused. “I am sadden to read that at this time of war, when our attention and thoughts should be placed with the heroic efforts of the brave men and women in the military, someone is focusing on corporate interests; specifically, the type of wireless technology to be deployed in post-war Iraq. Leave this matter to a later day and with all the facts accurately presented. Now, may our brave men and women in the military know of our support in liberating the people of Iraq,” said Brian Fontes, senior vice president of federal affairs at Cingular Wireless, when shown the letter.
Qualcomm responded to this and other like criticisms by saying that the Defense Department is making these decisions now, so now is the time for lobbying.
“It is our understanding that decisions about post-wartime cell-phone systems are being made in real time,” said Jonas Neihart, Qualcomm’s vice president for federal affairs. “Plans are moving forward for the post-conflict reconstruction, and plans are being made so concerns were raised.”
The letter’s reference to France comes two weeks after the House of Representatives voted to change the word “French fries” on its cafeteria menus to read “freedom fries.”
A call to Issa’s office was not returned.
