Skip to main content

Don’t miss the Special Session on Wi-Fi Expansion and the Future of Connected Vehicles!

As part of an effort by policymakers to make better use of the nation’s airwaves, Congress last year directed the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) to examine the potential for spectrum sharing in the 5.4 GHz and 5.9 GHz bands, the latter of which was set aside by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1999 for the development of connected vehicle technology. On January 25, the NTIA issued an initial report expressing concern about the potential interference risks asso
April 16, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Paul Feenstra will moderate a key session that will explore the feasibility of spectrum sharing in the 5.9 GHz band.
As part of an effort by policymakers to make better use of the nation’s airwaves, Congress last year directed the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) to examine the potential for spectrum sharing in the 5.4 GHz and 5.9 GHz bands, the latter of which was set aside by the 2115 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1999 for the development of connected vehicle technology.

On January 25, the NTIA issued an initial report expressing concern about the potential interference risks associated with allowing a substantial number of new, unlicensed devices to operate in the 5.9 GHz band, and proposing a technical evaluation process to determine whether and how the multiple risk factors could be mitigated.

On April 10, the FCC proceeded to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to open up the 5.4 and 5.9 GHz bands to unlicensed devices. ITS America and other connected vehicle stakeholders will be submitting comments to the FCC raising their concerns with the proposal (which have been expressed previously in an ITS America-led coalition letter to the FCC Chairman).

Attendees to the ITS America Annual Meeting & Exposition who would like to learn more are encouraged to attend a special session from 8:00 – 9:15am on Wednesday, April 24 in Ryman Studio O of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center titled “Wi-Fi Expansion and the Future of Connected Vehicle”.

The session will explore the feasibility of spectrum sharing in the 5.9 GHz band, focusing on the risk factors, potential benefits, and possible technical solutions; as well as next steps for working with the FCC, NTIA, US DOT and stakeholder community to figure out if there is a win-win scenario that would protect the connected vehicle program while allowing for expanded Wi-Fi services. The session, moderated by ITS America’s Paul Feenstra, Senior Vice President for Government and External Affairs, will feature presentations by Charles Glass of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) who will discuss the initial results of NTIA’s study on the potential for spectrum sharing in the 5.9 GHz band; Tom Schaffnit, President of the VII Consortium; Mary Brown, Director of Government Affairs at Cisco; and John Maddox, Director of Collaborative Program Strategies at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) and Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI).

Related Content

  • December 7, 2021
    Camera lowering tech from MG Squared
    When Vanderbilt University needed a camera lowering device that could consistently deliver a high-quality constant Ethernet signal simultaneously to six – 4K resolution – PTZ cameras, MG Squared was the top of the class. Additionally, when Vanderbilt University needed a custom, heavy-duty lowering device mount that would strategically secure and position six cameras on a single lowering device, MG Squared’s team, led by Jeffrey Watson, brought to life “The Beetle”.
  • February 5, 2014
    Move to modernise London underground leads to strikes
    A move by Transport for London (TfL) to modernise the London Underground, including the loss of 950 jobs and the closure of all ticket offices has led to the widespread strikes currently being experienced by travellers. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has called for the withdrawal of the cuts, saying that the plans are discriminatory and would leave important groups of staff vulnerable to abuse and assault as enforced lone working is pushed through. TfL claims the meas
  • January 23, 2017
    IBTTA, ITSA congratulate President Trump on his inauguration
    The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) and ITS America (ITSA) have commented on the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the US, saying they look forward to working with him and his administration to implement the proposed investment in the country’s infrastructure. IBTTA executive director and CEO Patrick D. Jones said that IBTTA and the tolling industry are ready to work with President Trump and his new administration to find ways to realise the president's campaign
  • June 18, 2024
    Crossing the line: managing traffic across jurisdictions
    The US will eventually have a fully-digitised transportation network, with traffic management devices talking to each other across massive distances. It’s really a question of pain points on the road to full deployment, explains Mark Talbot of Q-Free