Rivada Networks is a US-based communications technology business with offices in the US and Ireland. Rivada Networks was founded on July 6, 2004 and its current CEO and chairman is Irish businessman Declan Ganley. Rivada Networks is financially backed by Peter Thiel. An October 20, 2020, CNN report said that the White House had allegedly increased pressure to fast track a contract to lease the Department of Defense's underutilized spectrum in a public private partnership between the DoD and Rivada Networks, to use DoD's mid-band spectrum to eventually share 5G airwaves with wireless providers. Karl Rove, who is a paid lobbyist for Rivada, and Newt Gingrich have been lobbying since early 2019 for the DoD/Rivada deal which CNN says, would be "premium real estate for the booming and lucrative 5G market." Rivada says that is "not interested in a nationalized 5G network." History The name Rivada is derived from the acronym, "Radio Interoperable Voice and Data Applications." Rivada Networks is part of a joint venture with Port Graham Development Corporation called Rivada Port Graham Solutions. In April 2012, Rivada Port Graham Solutions was one of 30 prime contractors awarded a contract on the US Secret Service's $3 billion Tactical Communications (TACCOM) contract for the US Department of Homeland Security. Contractors received contracts in one or multiple technical categories, and each indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract has a 2-year base and three 1-year options. Some of the technical categories on the contract include portable/mobile radios, control/base stations, software, upgrades, repeaters, routers, comparator systems, engineering, design, installations, maintenance, frequency managers, spectrum managers and test equipment. Partnerships In May 2016, it was reported that Rivada Networks had partnered with Harris Corporation, Ericsson, Nokia, Intel Security, Fujitsu Network Communications, and Black & Veatch to form Rivada Mercury. Rivada Mercury unsuccessfully bid to build a nationwide LTE network in the 700 MHz spectrum licensed to FirstNet. Rivada Networks 5G business model In November 2018, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman, Ajit Pai, announced the first spectrum auction for 5G services as part of a multi-year "aggressive spectrum strategy" to "facilitate America's superiority in 5G." 5G—the "next generation of cellular technology"—will increase internet speed allowing, for example, users to "stream HD videos on your mobile network", and doctors to "perform remote surgery. In his February 19, 2019 Fox News article, "America in race against China—and the clock—to control future of tech", Newt Gingrich, called for a