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Last Words
Issa Bill Preferences U.S. Companies In Reconstruction of Iraq
Mandates Use of U.S. Based CDMA Cell Phone Technology
press release by Darrell Issa
27/03/2003
WASHINGTON, DC – One day after learning of a Department of Defense directive that specified the use of European-based GSM technology for the construction of a cell phone system in post-war Iraq, Congressman Darrell Issa introduced legislation, H.R. 1441, to mandate the use of U.S. based CDMA cell phone technology. The bill further requires that all contracts for post-war construction give preference to American companies.
Iraq is one of the few countries in the world without a substantial existing cell phone network. A limited GSM network was built for the use of the Iraqi leadership by the French company Alcatel, according to a World Markets Research Centre report.
“If U.S. taxpayers are going to be gifting billions of dollars in technology and infrastructure to the Iraqi people we ought to make sure, to the greatest extent possible, that those expenditures also benefit the American people and the American economy,” Issa said. “If we build a system based on European technology the Europeans will receive the royalties, not U.S. patent holders. From an investment standpoint, that is a bad decision.”
Issa also signed a letter with other lawmakers to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and United States Agency for International Development Director Wendy Chamberlain objecting to the decision to use the foreign cell phone standard. “If Congress doesn’t set a clear policy with respect to dollars for the reconstruction of Iraq, the real cost to the American taxpayer could increase dramatically,” Issa predicted.
Read the full press release
Links:
Earlier letter from Issa
Telephony World article
The Register article
Mobitopia post and discussion
Slashdot post and discussion
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