ITS America, automakers call on FCC to protect the safety spectrum

ITS America, along with automakers and intelligent transportation organisations, has filed comments with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging the FCC to focus on safety first when considering changing the rules of the 5.9 GHz Safety Spectrum band. The 5.9 GHz Safety Spectrum was allocated by the FCC in 1999 for the purpose of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) designed to bring safety benefits for consumers. The FCC is considering a proposal to reconfigure the 5.9 GHz band that w
July 11, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
560 ITS America, along with automakers and intelligent transportation organisations, has filed comments with the US 2115 Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging the FCC to focus on safety first when considering changing the rules of the 5.9 GHz Safety Spectrum band.

The 5.9 GHz Safety Spectrum was allocated by the FCC in 1999 for the purpose of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) designed to bring safety benefits for consumers.  The FCC is considering a proposal to reconfigure the 5.9 GHz band that would sweep away decades of research and development and delay lifesaving benefits.

ITS America called on the FCC to “proceed cautiously to avoid the unintended regulatory consequences of setting back what has become a substantial effort to advance transportation safety, sustainability and mobility."

Vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication technology using Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) operates within the 5.9 GHz Safety Spectrum to help avoid crashes and reduce fatalities.  This connected car technology has been extensively tested by the 324 US Department of Transportation, automakers and experts in advanced automotive systems.

V2V communication technology is also an important building block toward automated vehicles.  The auto industry supports the efficient use of spectrum and rigorous testing to determine whether the 5.9 GHz band can be safely shared with other unlicensed users.

According to Regina Hopper, president and CEO of ITS America, intelligent transportation systems are transforming safety and creating a more sustainable, integrated mobility transportation environment. “Substantial research and critical testing has been conducted in reliance on the 5.9 GHz band which proves that time-critical communications of these safety systems must be able to operate without delay or interference," she said.

Global Automakers president and CEO John Bozzella said that decisions over sharing the Safety Spectrum should be driven first and foremost by public safety. He claimed that V2V technology has the potential to prevent over 1,000 deaths a year, while 2094 Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers president and CEO Mitch Bainwol said, “V2V communications will help move us from crash survival to crash avoidance - the future of improved highway safety. That's why spectrum is so important and why a 'do no harm' approach to 5.9 is absolutely imperative."

Related Content

  • US DoT seeks voluntary AV standards
    October 11, 2018
    US authorities have signalled that voluntary – rather than compulsory – standards will be the way forward to integrate automated vehicles (AVs) into the country’s transport system. The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has issued new AV guidance but warns that the new document - Preparing for the Future of Transportation: Automated Vehicles 3.0 (AV 3.0) - does not replace the voluntary guidance it provided in Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety. “The safe integration of automated
    Read More
  • Automotive, Telecom and ITS companies launch C-V2X trials in Japan
    January 16, 2018
    Continental, Ericson, Nissan, NTT Docomo, OKI and Qualcomm Technologies will deliver Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) trials in Japan this year to show the enhanced range reliability and latency benefits the technology’s direct communications operated in 5 GHz band. The project’s results will provide input to ITS-related organisations and government agencies in preparation for connected cars and to prepare for the transition towards the 5G New Radio cellular standard being developed by the 3rd
    Read More
  • CES 2019 says hello to the future
    February 20, 2019
    The launch of the latest gadgets has made the Consumer Electronics Show into tech heaven for geeks worldwide – but there is a serious ITS component, too. Ben Spencer braves the bright lights of Las Vegas to find out more The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has been the showcase for some of the world’s most iconic gadgets – from VCRs to the Commodore 64, and from the camcorder to the launch of HDTV. This has made CES a mecca for tech heads all over the world since it began in the 1960s, but these days it
    Read More
  • Qualcomm launches cellular V2X chipset for connected vehicles
    October 23, 2017
    Qualcomm Technologies’ 9150 C-V2X chipset, is a cellular, vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) commercial solution for autonomous driving. Based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 14 specifications for PC5-based direct communications, it is anticipated to be available for commercial sampling in the second half of 2018.
    Read More

Highlighted Content