The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) and US automakers have responded to the announcement on legislation introduced by US Senators Marco Rubio and Cory Booker that would set deadlines on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for developing and publishing a test plan for the use of unlicensed devices in the 5.9 GHz band.
The senators introduced S. 2505, the Wi-Fi Innovation Act, legislation to expand unlicensed spectrum use by requiring the Federal Communications Commissio
The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (560 ITS America) and US automakers have responded to the announcement on legislation introduced by US Senators Marco Rubio and Cory Booker that would set deadlines on the 2115 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for developing and publishing a test plan for the use of unlicensed devices in the 5.9 GHz band.
The senators introduced S. 2505, the Wi-Fi Innovation Act, legislation to expand unlicensed spectrum use by requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to test the feasibility of opening the upper 5 GHz band to unlicensed use.
At a time when demand for spectrum is drastically increasing, the legislation aims to provide more of this valuable resource to the public to bolster innovation, spur economic development, and increase connectivity.
“In a century defined by drastic and colossal technological advancement, it is hard going even a day without using our cell phones, tablets and other wireless devices,” said Rubio. “Access to mobile broadband enhances our daily lives, facilitating quality work and timely communication. But our wireless devices rely on spectrum, a valuable and limited resource.
“To meet the demands of our time, action must be taken to ensure spectrum is utilised effectively and efficiently,” added Rubio. “This bill requires the FCC to conduct testing that would provide more spectrum to the public and ultimately put the resource to better use, while recognizing the future needs and important work being done in intelligent transportation. I am pleased that Senator Booker has joined me in this effort to foster the innovation and economic growth needed to make this century another American century.”
“There is a clear and growing demand for increased availability of spectrum,” said Booker.
“Senator Rubio and I came together on this legislation because we want to see this valuable resource made available for further use by the public. Not only does access to wireless broadband open the door for innovation and transformative new technologies, it helps bridge the digital divide that leaves too many low-income communities removed from the evolving technology landscape and the growing economic opportunities. Our bill also authorizes an important study of Wi-Fi deployment in low income communities and the barriers preventing deployment of wireless broadband in those neighbourhoods.”
Responding to the announcement, Scott F. Belcher, president and CEO of ITS America, said:
“Thanks to the strong commitment by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and automotive visionaries, and years of investment by innovators and American taxpayers, ‘talking cars’ that avoid crashes are well on the way to becoming a reality. The US DOT announced in February that it will begin a rulemaking process to deploy vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology in new cars and light trucks utilizing the 5.9 GHz band of spectrum set aside by the FCC for V2V communication.
“Earlier this week in testimony before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, US DOT Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology Gregory D. Winfree said, ‘We have very serious concerns about any spectrum sharing that prevents or delays access to the desired channel, or otherwise preempts the safety applications. At this time, the Department is unaware of any existing or proposed technical solution which guarantees interference free operation of the DSRC safety critical applications while allowing Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 5.9 GHz spectrum.’
“The834 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that V2V communication could prevent or reduce the impact of 4 out of 5 unimpaired vehicle crashes, saving thousands of lives each year and dramatically reducing the $871 billion annual cost of crashes to the nation’s economy. This connected vehicle safety technology truly represents the next giant leap in saving lives on America’s roadways by preventing crashes before they happen.
“ITS America supports the collaborative effort, which is already underway, to explore whether a technical solution exists that would allow Wi-Fi devices to operate in the 5.9 GHz band without interfering with these critical safety applications. But this process should be allowed to proceed without arbitrary deadlines, restrictive parameters or political pressure that could influence the outcome.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Senators Rubio and Booker, as well as the FCC and key stakeholders, to explore whether a technical solution can be developed and tested that will allow for spectrum sharing in the 5.9 GHz band without compromising safety.”
The4946 Association of Global Automakers, which represents 1686 Toyota Motor Corporation, 1683 Honda Motor Company, 838 Nissan Motor Company and other foreign makers, said the bill is putting at risk the opportunity to save thousands of lives. “The lifesaving benefits of (vehicle-to-vehicle) communications are within reach,” said John Bozzella, president and CEO. “Given what’s at stake, an ill-informed decision on this spectrum is a gamble.”
The2094 Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the trade group representing Detroit automakers, 994 Volkswagen, 1731 BMW, 2069 Daimler and others, said it is reviewing the legislation and will work with the senators to resolve concerns. “While we do not object to sharing the spectrum space, we’ve long advocated that legislators and regulators must take a ‘do no harm’ approach and ensure that there is no harmful interference to the dedicated short-range communications that allow vehicles to communicate with each other and infrastructure,” spokesman Wade Newton said.
The senators introduced S. 2505, the Wi-Fi Innovation Act, legislation to expand unlicensed spectrum use by requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to test the feasibility of opening the upper 5 GHz band to unlicensed use.
At a time when demand for spectrum is drastically increasing, the legislation aims to provide more of this valuable resource to the public to bolster innovation, spur economic development, and increase connectivity.
“In a century defined by drastic and colossal technological advancement, it is hard going even a day without using our cell phones, tablets and other wireless devices,” said Rubio. “Access to mobile broadband enhances our daily lives, facilitating quality work and timely communication. But our wireless devices rely on spectrum, a valuable and limited resource.
“To meet the demands of our time, action must be taken to ensure spectrum is utilised effectively and efficiently,” added Rubio. “This bill requires the FCC to conduct testing that would provide more spectrum to the public and ultimately put the resource to better use, while recognizing the future needs and important work being done in intelligent transportation. I am pleased that Senator Booker has joined me in this effort to foster the innovation and economic growth needed to make this century another American century.”
“There is a clear and growing demand for increased availability of spectrum,” said Booker.
“Senator Rubio and I came together on this legislation because we want to see this valuable resource made available for further use by the public. Not only does access to wireless broadband open the door for innovation and transformative new technologies, it helps bridge the digital divide that leaves too many low-income communities removed from the evolving technology landscape and the growing economic opportunities. Our bill also authorizes an important study of Wi-Fi deployment in low income communities and the barriers preventing deployment of wireless broadband in those neighbourhoods.”
Responding to the announcement, Scott F. Belcher, president and CEO of ITS America, said:
“Thanks to the strong commitment by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and automotive visionaries, and years of investment by innovators and American taxpayers, ‘talking cars’ that avoid crashes are well on the way to becoming a reality. The US DOT announced in February that it will begin a rulemaking process to deploy vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology in new cars and light trucks utilizing the 5.9 GHz band of spectrum set aside by the FCC for V2V communication.
“Earlier this week in testimony before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, US DOT Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology Gregory D. Winfree said, ‘We have very serious concerns about any spectrum sharing that prevents or delays access to the desired channel, or otherwise preempts the safety applications. At this time, the Department is unaware of any existing or proposed technical solution which guarantees interference free operation of the DSRC safety critical applications while allowing Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 5.9 GHz spectrum.’
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“ITS America supports the collaborative effort, which is already underway, to explore whether a technical solution exists that would allow Wi-Fi devices to operate in the 5.9 GHz band without interfering with these critical safety applications. But this process should be allowed to proceed without arbitrary deadlines, restrictive parameters or political pressure that could influence the outcome.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Senators Rubio and Booker, as well as the FCC and key stakeholders, to explore whether a technical solution can be developed and tested that will allow for spectrum sharing in the 5.9 GHz band without compromising safety.”
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